Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: BitCoin Master Thread

« on: January 15, 2021, 12:33:30 PM »

"No one talks about risk that gold could go to zero because it can’t — there's a floor in its price...But bitcoin, which has marginal intrinsic value, relies on the faith of its holders that it is worth more than nothing and that the technology is sound."https://t.co/4AhdVZy8vp

— Danielle DiMartino Booth (@DiMartinoBooth) January 15, 2021

?s=21

Comes down to this quote from the article:

Comparisons to gold in this regard are baseless. No one ever talks about the risk that gold could go to zero because it simply can’t — there is a floor in its price, because it has physical properties that make it useful even outside of its primary function as a safe-haven asset.

Although, I don't think for most people investing in Gold, it going to $10 (or whatever amount of value you want to ascribe to its physical properties (strictly physical properties. value as Jewelry can be argued is only there since Gold has been considered an asset)) isn't going to help them much more than BTC going to zero.

2

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: South Africa Master Thread

« on: January 13, 2021, 07:47:17 PM »

there are Game reserves near CPT
OP is arriving Thurs afternoon....
Throw in something like Sanbona or Aquila with a trip to the wine farms

VFA and Chobe is one kind of trip and a week is IMHO alot for that (not that you cant be kept busy) and CPT is a different type
VFA and Chobe can be combined with Kariba Dam or Okavango for a weeks activities

5-6 days including a shabbos isn't really a week.

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: South Africa Master Thread

« on: January 13, 2021, 07:15:03 PM »

Crazy to just do 5 or 6 days in vic falls as an entire vacation (coming from Israel)?
Arrive on Thursday afternoon, stay until Tuesday or Wednesday?

Thinking about a quick trip after succos - succos ends on Tuesday (Wednesday for bnei Chul). So to leave Wednesday night and need to come back Tuesday or Wednesday - I can't see doing CPT + Safari - timing just doesn't work.

I think it makes perfect sense. Between the falls and safari, it'd be like a mini SA trip.

If you haven't been to SA, doing CPT only means you'd want to return one day for safari anyway. Might as well do Kruger + CPT then.

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Costa Rica Master Thread

« on: January 12, 2021, 01:08:08 PM »

Mini TR:

Went Sunday to Wednesday this past week. We mostly stayed near La Fortuna at an airbnb in the arenal Volcano region.

Flew into SJO. Customs: Possibly due to a distracted screener had zero issues with a nice amount of meat.

We stayed by Courtyart Marriot saturday night. Nice hotel.

Sunday - For $150 we got a private driver to take us from san jose to arenal. We stopped by La Paz which is basically a small zoo. Overpriced at $48 but still recommended since the birds are cool and the waterfalls are great.
Monday - Small Arenal Hike (nice) and Tabacon Hot Springs (Very unique and relaxing) They are the only hotel in the area with natural hot springs that are not pumped. They sell a day pass. If you decline the meal you can get it a little cheaper.
Tuesday - We did a hike/hanging bridges/tram/ziplining package at Sky adventures Arenal. Super worth it at $108.    Bridges and zipliing were super cool. There are 4 separate hanging bridges and 5 different zip lines, all included in the package.
Wednesday - Pacuare River Class 4 Whitewater rafting. The river is very scenic, with a few waterfalls and some wildlife. The rafting companies will pick you up from different areas and drop you off where you want so its very economical at $99 if you do not rent a car there. They picked us up from La Fortuna at 530AM and dropped us off in San Jose at 6PM.

On that note - its not an easy country to drive in by day and by night it's especially not recommended. Many twists and turns on non lit up roads, with many one way stretches.

Wednesday night: Stayed by Marriot in San Jose. Very nice hotel with golf, tennis, and 2 pools.

Thanks for the report.

Can you please share the contact info for the private driver you used?

5

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Monsey Master Thread

« on: January 11, 2021, 07:29:03 PM »

what recommendation would you make for upscale hotel within 5 miles?

and fine meat(chicken meals preferred) place to eat dinner(upscale)?

Peppercrust.

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General Discussion / Re: BitCoin Master Thread

« on: January 06, 2021, 04:04:42 PM »

Gold also has way higher liquidity than BTC, it's also fungible in ways bitcoin isn't. Either way, BTC face value could keep rising until it's 10T, but in reality it's a house of cards that will collapse when the sell rally begins.

https://www.matthuang.com/static/Bitcoin_For_The_Open_Minded_Skeptic.pdf

7

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: National Parks Master Thread

« on: December 30, 2020, 01:18:14 PM »

Oh look, it's Cuyahoga 2.0:

https://www.outsideonline.com/2420006/our-newest-national-park-new-river-gorge

Seems fitting that it's included in the stimulus bill. They're devaluing your NP list along with the currency...

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Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: South Africa Master Thread

« on: December 28, 2020, 12:46:30 PM »

LOL, might stop in for a day next week.

On that note, top things to do in CPT? Will have from early afternoon to the following evening (7ish) and willing to run around like a chicken without a head.

-Table Mountain
-Chapman's Peak
-Cape of Good hope / Cape Point
-Boulder's Beach
-Robben Island
-V&A Waterfront
-Sunset at Signal Hill

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General Discussion / Re: any accountants out there that i can ask a question?

« on: December 24, 2020, 11:54:24 AM »

Anyone an expert with stock trades/wash sales? I think I have ben entering them in wrong for the last few years, would love to chat with you.

Why don't you ask a question and we'll try to answer.

10

Destination Guides And Trip Planning / Re: Brazil Master Thread

« on: December 21, 2020, 03:45:35 PM »

Well that changes the calculus.

Boils down to how fast you'll return to IGU.
If it's not anytime soon, go and do Macuco Safari, a helicopter ride, and view the vistas on the Brazil side. Your original proposed itin will work perfectly for this, though you need to redo your connection from GRU-RIO.

If you'll make it back, just skip IGU.

If you do end up doing IGU, Itaipu dam (if open) might be an interesting filler.

11

Up In The Air / Re: What Countries Have You Been To

« on: November 27, 2020, 09:20:31 AM »

The only countries I've added this year were in the Catskills

That might change after the Civil War.

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COVID-19 Discussion Board / Re: COVID-19 (Wuhan Novel Coronavirus) Pandemic Master Thread

« on: November 25, 2020, 09:34:32 AM »

The skies above North America at Noon ET on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Active flights
2018: 6,815
2019: 7,630
2020: 6,972

📡 https://t.co/NePPWZCDVp pic.twitter.com/WOY9j0BXpx

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 24, 2020

?s=21

What Purim did to the Jewish world Thanksgiving is doing to the US

Is there a breakdown of cargo vs passenger? I'd think that would be different than previous years.

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Trip Reports / Re: DDF RV Photo DO

« on: November 10, 2020, 12:26:06 PM »

Dead Horse was nice but we got nowhere.

As if it is the sign that chose not to be a national park...

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General Discussion / Re: Stocks

« on: November 05, 2020, 03:24:30 PM »

Do you really believe a large stimulus can be passed by the current government? I think we'd have to wait for the new congress to be seated. In which case we're talking about January as the earliest possible date for a first vote.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/04/election-2020-mcconnell-says-stimulus-will-be-senates-top-priority-before-end-of-2020.html

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COVID-19 Discussion Board / Re: Czar Cuomo

« on: October 21, 2020, 04:35:07 PM »

Where can you see the percentages by county?

https://covid19tracker.health.ny.gov/views/NYS-COVID19-Tracker/NYSDOHCOVID-19Tracker-TableView?%3Aembed=yes&%3Atoolbar=no&%3Atabs=n

New Positives Today / Persons Tested Today.