Castanza

For three years I kept an excel sheet which crawled the "What are you buying" thread and cataloged User, Stock and Price (USD) with 1k allocations per stock mention, per user, per day (If BRK.B gets mentioned 3 times that day then it gets allocated 3k). I treated options as stock purchases instead. Obviously far from perfect, but it was close enough to see a very rudimentary return of the users here both collectively and individually. Time period was sometime in 21->24. If I am remembering correctly the CAGR was something like ~18% collectively (don't quote me). Time for @Parsad to open a robo managed COBF ETF.

Web Development jobs and the TAM has done nothing but grow since the release of "vibe code" products from SquareSpace, Wix, etc. Most of these "can AI" or "will AI do this" questions are useless exercises. There is no point contemplating a pie in the sky question that ignores the nuance the real world demands.

CSU, TOITF, AJG, BRO, AON, MRSH

One massive F#@K up might mark the turn of this AI vs SaaS market. These massive enterprise systems are often one big mess of legacy and modern software/hardware all shoe stringed together and bubble wrapped together. I don’t see how AI parses these conglomerates and just “vibes a solution.”

LOL I’ve seen so many customers try to switch from private internal cloud to Amazon or Azure only to find out where they land on the support priority list. “But it’s cheaper!” I try to tell them this in advance, but they always decide to waste 6-12 months on proposals only to scrap them.

+1 Mastering and understanding the basics of anything analog will pay dividends. Even things as simple as learning to read a book. The attention span of kids these days is terrible. Engineers that don’t understand the basics of how systems work or why they work are less effective at solving problems. No amount of AI basic task solving will make them better at that. To a degree Education has lost the Apprentice -> Journeyman model and AI has reinforced it. I think it’s a net negative.

Trump isn't a Nazi; but he is the closest to a fascist leader we have ever had. His dismantling of political norms are paving the way for a real one to take the stage. Hitler started as a populist (which you stated properly defines Trump). The bridge between Populist and Fascists is but a stones throw...

The word you’re looking for is “Human”.

This is a wildly generalized conclusion based on a single datapoint that ignores almost all historical context, cultural context, legal/political context, and global economic context. But hey, if you want to stick your neck out there and say "America is for whites only" based on some idea that America is still a European colonial project. You're on your own.

Religion and its followers are susceptible to ideological narratives like anyone else. Specifically regarding the US political climate. If you haven’t read any of his work, I would suggest reading some Bonhoeffer. Quite appropriate as a lens to view the rise of Christian Nationalism in the US. Good read regardless of whether or not you’re religious.

Here is your LLM churn... You do realize that America has done many "un-American" things in the past. I mean Hell, Lincoln wanted to relocate all African Americans to South America post Civil War. You need to look at the ideas proposed and how the individuals who compose them come to their conclusions. JD Vance gets his ideas from Curtis Yarvin who is a self proclaimed racist that says things like "some races are better suited for servitude than others." But hey, we've done it in the past so it must be American to do it in the future! Not sure that's a hill you want to die on. I think it's funny that some of you complain about university acceptance quotas that are not solely based on merit and then at the same time want to adopt a Federal Immigration policy that is almost completely race based. Obviously there is a need for laws and standards (no disagreement there). But a merit based system makes the most sense.

Embracing Yarvin and then laying the framework for another Andrew Jackson Trail of Tears is next level. Vance is smart as a whip and well read no doubt. Less likely to draw a crowd like Trump but dangerously more organized and calculated. Perhaps you should actually do some digging and realize that ideas, opinions, and words matter. Some of you guys act S if American democracy is a permanent fixture for all of history moving forward. It only takes a few buffoons and a couple terms to muck it up.

Read this last year actually. Very enlightening book. I’d recommend checking out The Ravine if you’re interested in the topic.

It’s anti American Vance has said in no subtle terms that America is more than a nation of embodies creeds (American ideals). He insists that we are a “blood and soil” nation and promotes this new citizenship approach as some new packaged “American Heritage” nonsense. Heavily emphasized on European lineage. Not only is this patently false historically, but it goes way beyond any reasonable approach to selective immigration (skill, merit, etc.). No clue how he squares that idea while also being married to an Indian woman…

Anyone who gets his ideas from Curtis Yarvin would make a terrible President.

Holy shit lmfao dude you are lost both politically and morally. I assume you support Vance and his Bloodline immigration rule? “More American under Trump” lmfao now that is rich… Genuine question…what would Trump have to do to lose your support? When would you consider him a fascist?

Sure I don't disagree....However on the flip side of this you've had how many conservative politicians and talking heads excusing POTUS remarks as just "Trump speech" that shouldn't be taken serious. It was easy to buy and easy to excuse....remind you Hitler and Mussolini were both seen a buffoons in their early years of campaign and office who shouldn't have been taken seriously....I mean it's right out of the fascist playbook. Mein Kampf: "It doesn't matter if they laugh at us or ridicule us. All that matters is they can't stop thinking about us." Trump is a master of this no doubt, which has lead to some of the "boy cries wolf" point you framed. However I don't think it's wise to lose track of the game we are in...A spade is still a spade and I think it's undeniable that Trump has permanently introduced this new flavor of fascism into American politics. My concern is beyond Trump....How does American pivot from this course? An authoritarian left leaning electorate that dismantles the Trump legacy through similar means? Where does MAGA go? Trump has patented a deck of political cards that EVERY conservative politician will have to pick from and play in order to gain favor from the MAGA faithful which is what at a minimum 50% of the conservative party voter base? To summarize, Trump has ushered in a new era of American Politics and the floor for election is much higher up the radical political ideology ladder than I and many are comfortable with. Be careful what you wish for....The durability of American institutions is being tested...

Lots of pretty words there @Castanza Thanks Racist, fascist, bigot - whatever you say. You said those not me... Crime down huge, border secure. Civilian crime* .... I'm sure the SS didn't commit crime when Hitler was in power either.... no more castrating kids unless you want to be sued. Good - yet I'm not sure Trumps unhinged political crusade of the entire gambit is what was needed to accomplish this. The list of positives is huge List just 10 for me and then let me know how bringing the USA the closest it's ever been to the brink of full blown fascism is an acceptable tradeoff. he's the right President for the right time. I would agree for the first term he served. I call it populism Ignorance is bliss....we are well beyond populism

Spot on....I know quite a few people who cling to Trump 1.0 ignoring the musings of Trump 2.0. Trump is rapidly becoming if not already a Fascist leader. One would think on an investment forum that individuals would be able to pivot....I guess this highlights the blinders everyone bears and the subjective context in which choose to don them. I voted for Trump in his first term and largely have no major qualms with the results of the term outside of the final year. Barring covid, I think most reasonable individuals could find many favorable outcomes (and some negatives). I did not vote for him in the next two elections as I recognized the changes in his appetite for power. To be fair, I do not blame individuals for choosing to vote Trump over Biden nor Trump over Kamala...the political field was dogshit and anyone grandstanding on their vote for the opposing party is standing on thin ground. The below podcast (Sam Harris) and the article discussed ("Yes, It's Fascism" by Jonathan Rauch) are well worth the time. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/456-american-fascism/id733163012?i=1000748249740 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/america-fascism-trump-maga-ice/685751/ @cubsfan Do you reject the below definition? This doesn't even touch on the blatant abuse of powers for personal gain to the tune of 1-3B. See (Vietnam resort in exchange of tariffs amendments) Fascism - Ultra Nationalist, anti liberal political project organized around a promise of national rebirth, a cleansing restoration after a story of humiliation and decay. It rejects pluralism as a sham, treats opposition as an enemy rather than a rival; and elevates coercion often outright elevates violence as morally necessary to purge internal traders and reassert collective greatness. In it's mature form it becomes a leader centered mass movement that fuses with the state corrodes neutral institutions and renders general political competition impossible.

BRK.b and FRFHF

Man I love where this political forum is at! Liberals embracing the 2A and Conservatives embracing big government....what a time to be alive. I'm not sure why everyone is overcomplicating this though... 1. ) It is legal but NOT wise to bring a firearm to a protest (any for that matter) but especially ones that resemble a powder keg. As someone who does carry I would never do this. The odds are not in your favor and the chance of escalation goes way up. You want to be in control, not open yourself up to the irrational judgement decisions of fools. 2.) ICE murdered this guy plain and simple. They did not attempt to deescalate, nor follow any type of standard law enforcement protocol. Law enforcement is to detain and let the courts decide, not issue street justice. 3.) ICE is a good organization on paper that is being wielded as a political tool. Regardless of it's initial mission or intent, it has strayed FAR from those goals and mostly resembles a blunt tool to suppress opposition, strike fear, and bully. Citizens beware.... 4.) Congress sucks a its job. The President is unhinged and corrupt as Hell. This is resulting in politicians and organizations of all levels breaking down and blazing their own trails which is leading to more division. Lack of cohesion and structure is not often good long term for democratic republics. I think any rational person would agree with the above

Ex-poaching. They pretty much just had an entire acquisition from 2018 clawed back through employee walkout and poaching. Not sure how much that factors into this but I'm sure it plays a role. Either way, pretty amazing how fast the opinions of markets can change. I have a relatively sizeable position in BRO and will wait further to add. The stars are aligning for full market panic when it comes to the brokers. Likewise for AJG

A rifle has different requirements than a handgun. It does not need to be concealed and you do not need a permit. His violation which was thrown out was he borrowed it as an underage person. Use of deadly force is determined in the courts and importantly without hindsight analysis. Regardless, the Prosecutor was almost thrown out for Constitutional violations with questioning and the jury found him not guilty of all charges. But Rittenhouse was still and idiot for what he did. Im not sure you read my other posts regarding the ICU nurse but I’m in full agreement that he was wrongfully murdered by ICE and that he did not break any laws.

There is no shortage of armed protestors in this country. Be it the Black Panthers in Olympia or the Boogaloo Boys….its law enforcements job to parse the details and do their job. A tough one indeed. But ICE has not been de-escalating any of these situations. They smash and grab and crack skulls. They violate rights, refuse to read rights, cite laws or violations, or give any probably cause for many of their actions. Defending this is tantamount to defending the Kent State shooting.