Q4 State of the Economy 2025: Personal Ancedotes?

[DooDiligence]

2 minutes ago, brobro777 said:

 

Not me bro, watching guys do dumb shit has given me sense of relief over and over in life. I'm pretty dumb and lazy but against competition like that, I know that I got a chance baby, a pretty decent chance! 

 

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I watched a lot of guys do stupid shit at work and learned from it. Just can't stand watching it in a movie or TV show.

[brobro777]

 

2 minutes ago, DooDiligence said:

 

Don't get me wrong, I watched a lot of guys do stupid shit at work and learned from it. Just can't stand watching it in a movie or TV show.

 

Yea in a way I understand. One example I can think of is the movie Rounders where Ed Norton's character purposely make bad decisions, creating problems for him and the Matt Damon main character over and over 

 

But me and my buddies watched Dumb and Dumber so many times, oh man that's gold baby gold

 

 

[brobro777]

11 minutes ago, Red Lion said:

Words to live by. lol

 

Especially in Southern California! If you're punctual and not a complete mouth breathing moron, you can beat 90% of everyone in LA!

 

 

[Paarslaars]

Here in Europe everything going as always... not much to do around the economy right now.

[ratiman]

I just walked past a food bank in the DC suburbs and there was a long line of cars waiting to go through the food bank - BMW SUVs, new Honda Civic RS, new Subaru crossovers, Cadillac SUVs, and a few beaters. I asked a guy outside what the line was for and he said it was gov't employees during the shutdown going to a foodbank.  

[Eng12345]

5 hours ago, ratiman said:

I just walked past a food bank in the DC suburbs and there was a long line of cars waiting to go through the food bank - BMW SUVs, new Honda Civic RS, new Subaru crossovers, Cadillac SUVs, and a few beaters. I asked a guy outside what the line was for and he said it was gov't employees during the shutdown going to a foodbank.  

Yeah it's going to be brutal for the food banks. Shut down + loss of SNAP benefits is going to be hard on a lot of people. 

 

Remember we are all blessed to have the means to participate in this forum. 

Edited October 24, 2025 by Eng12345

[John Hjorth]

15 minutes ago, Eng12345 said:

Remember we are all blessed to have the means to participate in this forum. 

 

+1 @Eng12345,

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

Today, the Danish state budget for 2026 was approved in the Danish Parliament [In Danish, called 'Folketinget', translates 'The Gathering of the Danish People]. I'm in no way sure it's wise. Hand-outs to about everyone. For me especially : 25% VAT on books disappear 1^stJanuary 2026.

[Marco Van Basten]

1 hour ago, Eng12345 said:

Yeah it's going to be brutal for the food banks. Shut down + loss of SNAP benefits is going to be hard on a lot of people. 

 

Remember we are all blessed to have the means to participate in this forum. 

People with Cadillac and BMW SUVs should not be going to food banks.  If they are, that means that they are truly horrible at running household budgets and taking bread out of the mouths of truly hungry people

[DooDiligence]

They should be able to exist on cake

Edited October 25, 2025 by DooDiligence

[John Hjorth]

2 minutes ago, Marco Van Basten said:

People with Cadillac and BMW SUVs should not be going to food banks.  If they are, that means that they are truly horrible at running household budgets and taking bread out of the mouths of truly hungry people.

 

Sure, but in the first place, this thingy called government shut downs does in reality not exist here [the state actually runs at a surplus], so I'm quite sure, I'm misperceiving what's going on in USA.

[Eng12345]

11 minutes ago, Marco Van Basten said:

People with Cadillac and BMW SUVs should not be going to food banks.  If they are, that means that they are truly horrible at running household budgets and taking bread out of the mouths of truly hungry people

Your point is well taken, and I generally agree but at the end of the day you can't eat a BMW. 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Eng12345

[Spekulatius]

25 minutes ago, Eng12345 said:

Your point is well taken, and I generally agree but at the end of the day you can't eat a BMW. 

True you can’t eat a BMW but the government shutdown is now on for 2 weeks. So that’s one missed paycheck. I guess government employees are living paycheck to paycheck as most people do, BMW or not.

[Blugolds]

1 hour ago, Marco Van Basten said:

taking bread out of the mouths of truly hungry people

I grew up pretty poor, and that’s probably sugar coating it a little bit. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, I remember being a kid, maybe kindergarten or a little older and going with my grandpa to the courthouse for something (paperwork) and they had a bin by the front desk full of day old bread, loafs and buns and rolls, I remember seeing it and seeing that it was FREE and telling gramps, hey look FREE BREAD!! And him saying, “that’s for people doing worse than us” and I remember thinking, still to this day 30+ yrs later, man how bad do you have to be doing to get free bread. 
 

The sentiment stuck with me. If there is ANY way to avoid taking something then you shouldn’t, because there are people worse off that need it more, it should be a last resort and then only until you can figure something out. Seems like that sentiment has changed a bit, everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t I also.  Struggle is very subjective but it seems like the bar has been lowered over the years.
 

Reminds me of the movie Cinderella man, he was embarrassed to go on the dole and held out until he couldn’t feed his kids, then returned the funds once he had prize money from boxing. I guess that’s more my mindset, it’s there as a safety net not a convenience. 
 

The other side of that coin is that you have the richest country in the world, with a very select few obscurely wealthy people spending more on a 2nd yacht than the avg person will make in 300 lifetimes while people go hungry and skip meds with the heat set at 62. 
 

I’m all for earning it, carrying your own weight, self sufficiency, but I also think those who have such enormous wealth (and even us too as able) should help out others. Obscene displays of opulence to me is just as cringe as taking the bread at the courthouse after pulling up in a BMW. 

[73 Reds]

10 hours ago, Blugolds said:

I grew up pretty poor, and that’s probably sugar coating it a little bit. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, I remember being a kid, maybe kindergarten or a little older and going with my grandpa to the courthouse for something (paperwork) and they had a bin by the front desk full of day old bread, loafs and buns and rolls, I remember seeing it and seeing that it was FREE and telling gramps, hey look FREE BREAD!! And him saying, “that’s for people doing worse than us” and I remember thinking, still to this day 30+ yrs later, man how bad do you have to be doing to get free bread. 
 

The sentiment stuck with me. If there is ANY way to avoid taking something then you shouldn’t, because there are people worse off that need it more, it should be a last resort and then only until you can figure something out. Seems like that sentiment has changed a bit, everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t I also.  Struggle is very subjective but it seems like the bar has been lowered over the years.
 

Reminds me of the movie Cinderella man, he was embarrassed to go on the dole and held out until he couldn’t feed his kids, then returned the funds once he had prize money from boxing. I guess that’s more my mindset, it’s there as a safety net not a convenience. 
 

The other side of that coin is that you have the richest country in the world, with a very select few obscurely wealthy people spending more on a 2nd yacht than the avg person will make in 300 lifetimes while people go hungry and skip meds with the heat set at 62. 
 

I’m all for earning it, carrying your own weight, self sufficiency, but I also think those who have such enormous wealth (and even us too as able) should help out others. Obscene displays of opulence to me is just as cringe as taking the bread at the courthouse after pulling up in a BMW. 

Many, many people of means give a lot to help others who are less fortunate, often completely anonymously.  The people in food lines who drive BMWs likely made bad decisions b/c those BMWs came with large payments they could not afford - otherwise they would not be in food lines.  Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for them.

[DooDiligence]

11 hours ago, Blugolds said:

I grew up pretty poor, and that’s probably sugar coating it a little bit. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, I remember being a kid, maybe kindergarten or a little older and going with my grandpa to the courthouse for something (paperwork) and they had a bin by the front desk full of day old bread, loafs and buns and rolls, I remember seeing it and seeing that it was FREE and telling gramps, hey look FREE BREAD!! And him saying, “that’s for people doing worse than us” and I remember thinking, still to this day 30+ yrs later, man how bad do you have to be doing to get free bread. 
 

The sentiment stuck with me. If there is ANY way to avoid taking something then you shouldn’t, because there are people worse off that need it more, it should be a last resort and then only until you can figure something out. Seems like that sentiment has changed a bit, everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t I also.  Struggle is very subjective but it seems like the bar has been lowered over the years.
 

Reminds me of the movie Cinderella man, he was embarrassed to go on the dole and held out until he couldn’t feed his kids, then returned the funds once he had prize money from boxing. I guess that’s more my mindset, it’s there as a safety net not a convenience. 
 

The other side of that coin is that you have the richest country in the world, with a very select few obscurely wealthy people spending more on a 2nd yacht than the avg person will make in 300 lifetimes while people go hungry and skip meds with the heat set at 62. 
 

I’m all for earning it, carrying your own weight, self sufficiency, but I also think those who have such enormous wealth (and even us too as able) should help out others. Obscene displays of opulence to me is just as cringe as taking the bread at the courthouse after pulling up in a BMW. 

 

I also have a hard time feeling sympathy for people who live beyond their means, but it's completely understandable when put in context with the wider messaging in a consumer society. What the hell do you expect when we're bombarded with images of opulent lifestyles. It's one thing to see this and live in a third world shithole, but we live in a place where there's plenty of opportunity to emulate the Joneses.

 

Personally, it disturbs me significantly more to see some asshole throw a $50m+ wedding where nearly 100 bizjets fly in the face of BS statements about "emphasizing the fragility of the planet and saying everything is getting better except the environment and it's our duty to leave a better place for future generations" --- blah, blah, blah.

[Blugolds]

Reminds me, I just saw a clip the other day from a local news down south, talking about Military families in line at the local food bank, they said they didnt know when they were gonna get a check due to the shutdown (before they found out they were gonna get paid) and the lady in line they interviewed talked about uncertainty and “it just helps out a little” but that wasnt what got me, what got me was that the lines are LONG…and this lady, when asked what she liked to get, she said, milk, eggs and cheese when its available, and she also liked the peas and green beans because…..wait for it…her dog loves those!! I couldn’t believe it, imagine a line out the door, you’re desperate enough to be at a food bank with other families with kids..and you are gonna grab some things for your dog…

 

And I agree, I guess what do you expect when, what was it, half of Americans reading and comprehension level is at 6th grade, in a consumerist society, constantly being told via social media drip that you need to overextend to be X (x=pretty, popular, successful etc) with the vast majority receiving little to no basic education in personal finance, a make the minimum monthly payment, everyone else is doing it, I work hard I deserve it etc. It’s a house of cards. 

Edited October 25, 2025 by Blugolds

[SharperDingaan]

Back in the day one of the central african countries had a problem with elephant poaching. Another countries poaching syndicates were driving elephant herds into mine fields, and using military helicopters to support the hacking out of the tusks and transportation elsewhere. One of the authorised solutions was the use of bounty, both inside and outside of the country. $X for a pair of easily transportable ears (discourage local tribesmen), and a free pass to help yourself to the syndicates. Whatever you could liberate was yours, however you chose to, and wherever it went, no questions asked ... while under a form of diplomatic immunity  With so many mercenaries around, very good at what they did ... an opportunity few could resist!

 

A lot of rich people suddenly became poor, and business was good for a time  I understand that the larger dhows can also accommodate at-sea helicopter transfers, and make quite a distance at certain times of the year. Some rich people even got relocated to the wrong country; karma is such a bitch!

 

There's the getting rich, and staying rich. Shit where you sleep ......

 

SD 

 

  

 

   

Edited October 25, 2025 by SharperDingaan

[Spekulatius]

Inflation keeps moving up, albeit slowly:

 

[DooDiligence]

2 hours ago, Spekulatius said:

Inflation keeps moving up, albeit slowly:

 

 

Look for a Sharpie reversal from the totally trustworthy new BLS soon.

[Spekulatius]

5 hours ago, Blugolds said:

Reminds me, I just saw a clip the other day from a local news down south, talking about Military families in line at the local food bank, they said they didnt know when they were gonna get a check due to the shutdown (before they found out they were gonna get paid) and the lady in line they interviewed talked about uncertainty and “it just helps out a little” but that wasnt what got me, what got me was that the lines are LONG…and this lady, when asked what she liked to get, she said, milk, eggs and cheese when its available, and she also liked the peas and green beans because…..wait for it…her dog loves those!! I couldn’t believe it, imagine a line out the door, you’re desperate enough to be at a food bank with other families with kids..and you are gonna grab some things for your dog…

 

And I agree, I guess what do you expect when, what was it, half of Americans reading and comprehension level is at 6th grade, in a consumerist society, constantly being told via social media drip that you need to overextend to be X (x=pretty, popular, successful etc) with the vast majority receiving little to no basic education in personal finance, a make the minimum monthly payment, everyone else is doing it, I work hard I deserve it etc. It’s a house of cards. 

What kind of dog like green beens and pees? 

[Gamecock-YT]

8 hours ago, 73 Reds said:

Many, many people of means give a lot to help others who are less fortunate, often completely anonymously.  The people in food lines who drive BMWs likely made bad decisions b/c those BMWs came with large payments they could not afford - otherwise they would not be in food lines.  Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for them.

 

It's only when the tide goes out that you realize who's been swimming naked. 

 

or

 

We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like

[John Hjorth]

7 hours ago, Blugolds said:

Reminds me, I just saw a clip the other day from a local news down south, talking about Military families in line at the local food bank, they said they didnt know when they were gonna get a check due to the shutdown (before they found out they were gonna get paid) and the lady in line they interviewed talked about uncertainty and “it just helps out a little” but that wasnt what got me, what got me was that the lines are LONG…and this lady, when asked what she liked to get, she said, milk, eggs and cheese when its available, and she also liked the peas and green beans because…..wait for it…her dog loves those!! I couldn’t believe it, imagine a line out the door, you’re desperate enough to be at a food bank with other families with kids..and you are gonna grab some things for your dog…

 

And I agree, I guess what do you expect when, what was it, half of Americans reading and comprehension level is at 6th grade, in a consumerist society, constantly being told via social media drip that you need to overextend to be X (x=pretty, popular, successful etc) with the vast majority receiving little to no basic education in personal finance, a make the minimum monthly payment, everyone else is doing it, I work hard I deserve it etc. It’s a house of cards. 

 

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

What kind of dog like green beans and peas? 

 

Respectfully, @Spekulatius,

 

I think you're reading @Blugolds post above in a wrong way, and not by it's sincere meant intentions. The answer to your question is : 'A hungry one.' The only real difference between a human beings Maslow hierarch of needs and that of a dog, actually is that wifi isen't in the Maslow pyramid of needs for a dog at ground level, it's not there at all.

 

Like for every human being, a dog will do what ever it takes inside its available option space of alternatives to get its hunger satisfied, if it's seriously deprived for food hard enough.

 

With pets, it's WYGIWYG [, not to be confused with $MS WYSIWYG, here meaning 'what you give is what you get']. When you get one, you have to be aware of that you have to be able to take care of it the rest of its life, and even helping it to get over the rainbow when it eventually ELOs, so you don't deprive it the last part of dignity, when that time is up.

 

In short, it's like a kid, who never leaves the nest. It really commits you and ties one up. If you won't really commit, don't get the pet in the first place.

 

The story shared above by @Blugolds I read it as a clear token, expression, of financial distress, desperation by that particular lady, perhaps and likely spiced up with a stint of ignorance about what a dog really is. It's actually a heartbraking read for me personally.

 

Disclosure : I'm personally an incurable pet lover [, that fact alone dismisses any rational comment from me, btw]. I know for a fact that I'm not the only one here on CofB&F, because it has been discussed here at CofB&F 'at the water cooler'.

Edited October 25, 2025 by John Hjorth

[Blugolds]

I found the video

 

 

I love pets/animals as much as the next guy, but I don’t think it’s right to take food from a food bank for an animal that might be used to feed kids or the elderly who are truly needy and hungry, they take priority IMO. I have empathy for those who are in precarious situations due to no fault of their own, and even those who are in situations that you and I would never be in, because they didn’t know any better (I don’t fault people for being stupid because they don’t have the tools in their toolbox, what seems like common sense to you or I, might not be to them if it’s all they’ve ever known).

 

And then part of me also struggles with the idea that, hey, had they been in a different situation, a different lottery ticket at birth, they could have ended up born in the slums in a 3rd world country that would make their current situation seem like luxury, OR they could have been born into a family that has the connections to start a meme coin and make billions, throw up a website that sells sneakers, bibles, cologne, watches etc and because of that never have to worry about money for the rest of their life rather than slugging along on a small military paycheck. And I don’t know how to wrap my head around that really. I always thought (probably influenced by WB and BRK) make your money honestly, never stop learning, work hard and good things happen, and for some that’s the recipe for success, but for many they’re not capable, and for some, they are in a position where the exact opposite is true, in a position such that they don’t have to work hard, the hand they were dealt was so good that they can play it horribly, without personal improvement, without cunning intellectual curiosity, without integrity they create vast wealth. So maybe none of it even matters, maybe it’s all a big joke.
 

 

[John Hjorth]

54 minutes ago, Blugolds said:

... I love pets/animals as much as the next guy, but I don’t think it’s right to take food from a food bank for an animal that might be used to feed kids or the elderly who are truly needy and hungry, they take priority IMO. I have empathy for those who are in precarious situations due to no fault of their own, and even those who are in situations that you and I would never be in, because they didn’t know any better (I don’t fault people for being stupid because they don’t have the tools in their toolbox, what seems like common sense to you or I, might not be to them if it’s all they’ve ever known).

 

And then part of me also struggles with the idea that, hey, had they been in a different situation, a different lottery ticket at birth, they could have ended up born in the slums in a 3rd world country that would make their current situation seem like luxury, OR they could have been born into a family that has the connections to start a meme coin and make billions, throw up a website that sells sneakers, bibles, cologne, watches etc and because of that never have to worry about money for the rest of their life rather than slugging along on a small military paycheck. And I don’t know how to wrap my head around that really. I always thought (probably influenced by WB and BRK) make your money honestly, never stop learning, work hard and good things happen, and for some that’s the recipe for success, but for many they’re not capable, and for some, they are in a position where the exact opposite is true, in a position such that they don’t have to work hard, the hand they were dealt was so good that they can play it horribly, without personal improvement, without cunning intellectual curiosity, without integrity they create vast wealth. So maybe none of it even matters, maybe it’s all a big joke.

 

Thank you for sharing the details, shades and nuances of your thoughts, @Blugolds,

 

It's indeed very complex, complicated, I'll give you that.

 

At times, the Lady of the House here gets into some kind of self-occilation, mental overdrive, where I sense, that she thinks I'm a an self-serving, egoististic, almost psychopathic, insensive a**hole, when we discuss such awful matters going on somewhere. My reply always, - over and again - is that she can't expect me to approach and solve all issues on the planet in our solar system called the Earth, because I simply can't.

Edited October 25, 2025 by John Hjorth

[DooDiligence]

15 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Thank you for sharing the details, shades and nuances of your thoughts, @Blugolds,

 

It's indeed very complex, complicated, I'll give you that.

 

At times, the Lady of the House here gets into some kind of self-occilation, mental overdrive, where I sense, that she thinks I'm a an self-serving, egoististic, almost psychopathic, insensive a**hole, when we discuss such awful matters going on somewhere. My reply always, - over and again - is that she can't expect me to approach and solve all issues on the planet in our solar system called the Earth, because I simply can't.

 

Shit's complicated. Basically, be honest, live up to your responsibilities, don't fuck people over, and try to do nice things with no need for recognition or reward. Nobody's perfect on any of those points. Some people are just cunts their entire lives. Politicians come to mind. Avoid them like the plague.