agentsquirrel's recent activity
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Comment on Texas secessionists win GOP backing for independence vote: 'Major step' in ~news
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Comment on Texas secessionists win GOP backing for independence vote: 'Major step' in ~news
agentsquirrel Link ParentIf TX seceded, the US military would abandon the military installations, probably destroying them in the process, assuming there isn't some mass defection of soldiers (which would be treason). The...Texas is the proud home to 15 active duty military installations with an economic impact of over $100 billion.
If TX seceded, the US military would abandon the military installations, probably destroying them in the process, assuming there isn't some mass defection of soldiers (which would be treason). The sites would essentially be military bases in a foreign country. TX my get the land, but they won't get the facilities, equipment, and personnel. I think this is where a lot of Texans are mistaken. They think they can simply make "mini US" and everything gets divided all nicely. Also, they get to be on the other side of a border wall.
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Comment on Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty of thirty-four counts of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election in ~news
agentsquirrel Link ParentWhich Trump did.swearing an oath to the Constitution and then leading a rebellion against the United States
Which Trump did.
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Comment on School choice programs have been wildly successful under Ron DeSantis. Now Florida public schools might close. in ~life
agentsquirrel Link ParentAnd (in our area at least) it's a financial double whammy for the public school. Here our schools have to pull a proportional amount out for each student attending charter school and give it to...They're private schools that take public money.
And (in our area at least) it's a financial double whammy for the public school. Here our schools have to pull a proportional amount out for each student attending charter school and give it to the charter school. For example, if the public school has 1,000 students and one leaves for a charter school, the public school sends 1/1000 of its tax revenue to the charter school. However the public school doesn't realize a 1/1000th reduction in expenses. Even worse, the public schools are "stuck" with students with special needs with higher costs (i.e. behavioral health, emotional support, intermediate unit services, etc.), so average cost per public school student has increased. Meanwhile, the district school board is elected citizens/wannabe politicians who have no background in education and are adamant about not raising taxes while the district is getting financially choked by these charter schools.
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Comment on Is private equity actually worth it? in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentThanks. I'll add that something I found interesting with the last PE firm I worked with is that everyone in the firm had skin in the game. As an employee of the PE firm, if you were involved in a...Thanks. I'll add that something I found interesting with the last PE firm I worked with is that everyone in the firm had skin in the game. As an employee of the PE firm, if you were involved in a particular fund that invested in a company, you actually had to pony up personal funds and have a stake in it. This went for not only the financial people, but also the personnel that were involved in other areas, like technology, and junior level personnel. If the investment tanks, you lose your own money in addition to the fund investors. (PE firms usually have several funds going at once with overlapping timelines, each with a 5-7 year timeframe between launch and divestment of all investments.). I don't know if the employee investment commitment is common with all PE firms. I only know of PE within my industry, so I'm not versed in the PE horror in other areas.
Although I was happy with the financial outcome and got to know some really smart and neat people at the PE firm, the company which I joined early as a startup became just another not-so-innovative company focused on quarterly results. But, on to the next startup, lather, rinse, repeat, and hopefully retire someday.
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Comment on Is private equity actually worth it? in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentGot it. I agree with your post above. It's spot on about the 5-7 year timeframe. I've been involved in four recapitalizations in my career and I've seen good and bad with PE. The last firm I...Got it. I agree with your post above. It's spot on about the 5-7 year timeframe.
I've been involved in four recapitalizations in my career and I've seen good and bad with PE. The last firm I worked with actually provided a lot of free resources, but unfortunately they turned us into a boring company, but profitable. There were good payouts down to the mid-management level. But the soul of the company was gone. I understand the current equity partner there is hell to work with. I'm so glad to be out of there.
I was involved in one IPO many years ago in the dot com boom and bust. That was a lot of smoke and mirrors, and yes, suckers. It's a game that's rigged for the underwriters and market makers. One thing I'll say that's positive about PE is that if you're going from PE firm to PE firm in a recapitalization, all the PE firms have quite smart people who can figure out where the bodies are buried. The public doesn't have this sort of vetting with IPOs.
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Comment on Why is the discourse on Tildes so much nicer than most places on the internet? in ~tildes
agentsquirrel LinkIn addition to the moderation, I'd say the quality of comments here begets high quality comments. I'm often hesitant to post a comment, for fear of not having it contribute anything meaningful to...In addition to the moderation, I'd say the quality of comments here begets high quality comments. I'm often hesitant to post a comment, for fear of not having it contribute anything meaningful to the discussion. I don't have this same feeling of quality with Lemmy / the Fediverse, which I've given up on.
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Comment on Is private equity actually worth it? in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentYes, but there's a lot more ongoing and costly filings and administration and SEC rules to comply with when you go public. I agree IPOs give a bigger payout, if you can pull it off. It was easy in...Yes, but there's a lot more ongoing and costly filings and administration and SEC rules to comply with when you go public. I agree IPOs give a bigger payout, if you can pull it off. It was easy in the late 90s and in 2000 prior to the crash to do an IPO, not so much anymore.
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Comment on Is private equity actually worth it? in ~finance
agentsquirrel LinkPrivate equity is where you go when you want to trade in the soul of your company for a big payoff.Private equity is where you go when you want to trade in the soul of your company for a big payoff.
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Comment on Capital One to buy Discover Financial in $35.3 billion all-stock deal in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentI've had a Discover card for 35 years; it was my first credit card I got right out of college. I've seen a decline in their customer support. Last year I had an erroneous charge from Walmart and I...I've had a Discover card for 35 years; it was my first credit card I got right out of college. I've seen a decline in their customer support. Last year I had an erroneous charge from Walmart and I disputed it. Walmart sent Discover a blank invoice with no line items on it in support of the charge. Discover declined the dispute. I disputed the charge again, citing the blank invoice, and Discover declined the dispute again. But I continue to keep the card due to the 5% cashback periods and no annual fees.
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Comment on US federal appeals court rejects Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity in ~news
agentsquirrel Link ParentExactly. The thing to watch here is if they do take it up and slow walk it. That would be the conservative justices giving Trump another tactical win with another delay.Exactly. The thing to watch here is if they do take it up and slow walk it. That would be the conservative justices giving Trump another tactical win with another delay.
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Comment on Spotify has signed a new multiyear agreement with Joe Rogan, the host of one of the most popular and polarizing podcasts in the US in ~tech
agentsquirrel Link ParentForty plus years ago this would have been called "lazy and incompetent interviewing and journalism". Today it's called "driving engagement".Forty plus years ago this would have been called "lazy and incompetent interviewing and journalism". Today it's called "driving engagement".
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Comment on Easton area lights up night sky with bonfire ahead of 116th Thanksgiving football game in ~life
agentsquirrel LinkI saw this one time driving on Route 22 years ago, and didn't know what it was. It was huge, even at that distance. I thought it was a building burning down.I saw this one time driving on Route 22 years ago, and didn't know what it was. It was huge, even at that distance. I thought it was a building burning down.
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Comment on Semaglutide for weight loss in ~health
agentsquirrel LinkMy wife was on it and lost about 30 pounds with no issues or side effects. She just went to get it refilled and health insurance denied coverage of it because she's not a diabetic. They covered it...My wife was on it and lost about 30 pounds with no issues or side effects. She just went to get it refilled and health insurance denied coverage of it because she's not a diabetic. They covered it before. So now she's off of it and gaining back the weight.
The joys of US healthcare....
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Comment on What home network equipment do you use? in ~comp
agentsquirrel Link ParentI'm surprised there aren't more recommendations for Mikrotik here. The price versus capabilities ratio is outstanding. Where else can you get a $75 USD box that does things like BGP, OSPF, and...I'm surprised there aren't more recommendations for Mikrotik here. The price versus capabilities ratio is outstanding. Where else can you get a $75 USD box that does things like BGP, OSPF, and MPLS? One can do about anything they want with the scripting functionality. As you mention there is a learning curve, but the initial Webfig screen does get one a working Internet router with NAT and DHCP pretty quick.
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Comment on Microsoft might want to be making Windows 12 a subscription OS, suggests leak in ~tech
agentsquirrel Link ParentI'm typing this on a 10 year MacBook Pro. It's running the latest version of MacOS and I haven't paid a cent to Apple for anything on this laptop since buying it, OS or updates. Microsoft has gone...I'm typing this on a 10 year MacBook Pro. It's running the latest version of MacOS and I haven't paid a cent to Apple for anything on this laptop since buying it, OS or updates. Microsoft has gone through, what, three version of Windows in that timeframe? I have a stack of Windows laptops 6-10 years old that can't run the latest Windows.
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Comment on The conservative push for “school choice” has had its most successful year ever in ~finance
agentsquirrel Link ParentPublic schools aren't great for teachers, either. My wife is a para in the local district. Wages are so low I half-jokingly consider it volunteer work. All of her co-workers are twenty-somethings,...Public schools aren't great for teachers, either. My wife is a para in the local district. Wages are so low I half-jokingly consider it volunteer work. All of her co-workers are twenty-somethings, there are very few older teachers. Employee burnout and churn is high. We have to buy school supplies for students with our own money because the school doesn't supply enough and the school board is more concerned with low taxes and maintaining their positions on the board. None of them have any background in education. Cyberschools are sucking funds out of the district at an alarming rate as each student in the district that goes to one has a set amount of money sent from the district to the cyberschool. There's a teacher shortage. They backfill with paras and subs and when they can't find enough of them the kids go into the auditorium for the day. Staffing for special needs students is totally inadequate.
The only bright side of working for the school here is the health insurance, and if you're a teacher you have the union and a good pension plan if you can withstand working there enough years. I can't imagine if school vouchers become commonplace. It will kill our school district.
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Comment on Nostalgia -- what programs do you miss? in ~tech
agentsquirrel LinkTurbo PacalTurbo Pacal
Agreed on the military installations on foreign soil, however, these require cooperation of the nation hosting the installations. The relationship with the new country of Texas would likely be quite tenuous. But I agree that the US could maintain bases in what would be a foreign country. Arguably it would be in the best interests of both the US and Texas.
I also agree no one in their right mind would secede or allow a state to secede, but our politics have gone off the rails. One party has gone off the rails, to be more specific. Who would have though we'd have a violent insurrection at the Capitol, we'd have politicians booing police officers who were injured in protecting the Capitol, and the instigator of it all still walking around free, and now convicted of 34 felony counts still running for president and having a real good chance of winning? We're in a very crazy timeline. If Trump loses the election, all bets are off. Of course, the same can be said if he wins.