Messages

1

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: furlough's

« on: June 16, 2015, 07:33:08 PM »

http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article24640072.html

Look at the totality of the picture. When you look at that, it is a tax cut.

The minority party put forward no proposals to solve this issue. None. They just wanted to see it fail.

 

2

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: Official D Scott Fritchen Aggieville Creepster Thread.

« on: May 18, 2015, 09:37:30 AM »

Who knows what those charges mean. It makes it sound like he had a throw down with an officer and I don't think that happened. We will see what the legal process brings, but if "criminal littering" means he threw a perfectly good sandwich on the ground, he's going on double secret probation.

roast beef

Best ever?

3

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Communist Hot Take On Super Rich

« on: May 13, 2015, 04:46:02 PM »

Just some simple churchy things:

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The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Communist Hot Take On Super Rich

« on: May 12, 2015, 07:40:15 PM »

The adage "live simply so others may simply live" comes to mind.

This is a good lesson for politicians making incredibly wasteful welfare policy. Churches and some charities are the best at living by this credo.

 

5

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: UberX targeting super stud city MHK

« on: May 08, 2015, 07:52:23 PM »

http://citypaper.net/uberdriver/

 

6

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: UberX targeting super stud city MHK

« on: May 06, 2015, 10:12:05 PM »

Were specific examples of insurance gaps and loopholes discussed during the legislative process?  I'd love to see how a situation played out in real life that prompted a belief that this legislation was imperative to protect auto lenders who've loaned money to uber drivers that will default on their loans once a car accident happens and thus lose a (not the only) remedy in recovering the loan balance?

No real world example, but I think it's a fairly logical argument with some pretty easy workarounds.

I agree, and speculate that the lack of this even being a problem in real life is allowing all involved to have mumped up fixing it in a way that works for everyone.

Legislators gonna legislate.

7

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: UberX targeting super stud city MHK

« on: May 06, 2015, 08:42:53 PM »

Were specific examples of insurance gaps and loopholes discussed during the legislative process?  I'd love to see how a situation played out in real life that prompted a belief that this legislation was imperative to protect auto lenders who've loaned money to uber drivers that will default on their loans once a car accident happens and thus lose a (not the only) remedy in recovering the loan balance?

No real world example, but I think it's a fairly logical argument with some pretty easy workarounds. Banks, insurance cos and Uber are gigantic dicks so there's no real winner. Uber's MHK service/rates were pretty lol while in operation here tho.

8

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: UberX targeting super stud city MHK

« on: May 06, 2015, 08:33:54 PM »

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/03/14/uber-closes-insurance-gap-for-ride-sharing-drivers/

So this is still an issue or am I missing something?

Uber is only providing liability coverage. It won't cover repairs to a vehicle, and a personal comprehensive policy will not cover the repairs if the accident happened during the course of commercial activity.

The insurance they talk about in that article is when the driver isn't "commercial" as in taking a passenger, it's only when the app is on and driver is available....in that case personal insurance coverage kicks in first in most cases (their words) and if not, the additional uber insurance kicks in (in theory)

Uber is only picking up liability insurance if a driver causes damage another person/property. The banks don't give a crap about anything other than their collateral.

9

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: UberX targeting super stud city MHK

« on: May 06, 2015, 01:24:31 PM »

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/03/14/uber-closes-insurance-gap-for-ride-sharing-drivers/

So this is still an issue or am I missing something?

Uber is only providing liability coverage. It won't cover repairs to a vehicle, and a personal comprehensive policy will not cover the repairs if the accident happened during the course of commercial activity.

10

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Replace the term marriage with life partner contracts

« on: April 29, 2015, 01:41:47 PM »

The only downside is that, once we take this step to civil unions, I can't formulate a logical argument against allowing 3 or 4 or more people - gay or straight - to enter a civil union.

Why do you need to?

Because reasons!

11

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: SUber Sam

« on: April 21, 2015, 06:56:09 PM »

Then stop acting like the state mandate for personal liability insurance is adequate, dumbass.

12

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: SUber Sam

« on: April 21, 2015, 04:33:01 PM »

All drivers have to have insurance under existing state law, you rubes. Perhaps it's not the amount the legislature wants for uber drivers, and it is almost certainly less than required by cab services (another discussion on how fair competition is). I can't even imagine the backlash and accusations of racism if kansas tried to enforce mandatory "state minimum insurance ID check".

I don't see how the bank should have any say in the matter, and they certainly shouldn't be able to take IC cars as collateral for uber debt. If the driver's borrowed to buy their car, that lien is already on the title.

The law mandates that the uber drivers carry collision coverage more than just liability that the current state law requires. You'd know that if you actually read the article.

You realize collision only insures the driver's vehicle, right? That's the bankers part of this. Obviously that part of the law is stupid. Good grief.

I'd imagine there is some difference in what the insurance would pay toward the medical bills of the passengers you are driving around as well. I'm not sure, though.

That's called liability insurance, and it's required by law (I think state minimum is still 25/50/25). How do people not know this crap?

Personal liability insurance is different than commercial liability insurance for vehicles.

13

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: ask a townie

« on: March 17, 2015, 09:41:13 PM »

Clams, I may have to check those numbers. Doesn't seem correct. Mhk was expensive when we considered moving back about 2002.


Gonna win 'em all!

Wait another 5 years and you can pick up a cheap lot in Colbert Hills right next to an apartment complex.

14

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: ask a townie

« on: March 17, 2015, 05:19:44 PM »

Are non-rental/Student housing prices expensive in Manhattan?

I have a buddy who got a job in the area and recently moved to Manhattan because he didn't to live in the Small Town where his job actually is.

He previously had a little 4 bedroom 200k ish McMansion in Olathe and ended up getting a smaller house in Manhattan for the same price. I kind of figured Manhattan might be cheaper but then again it is BOOMTOWN USA.

Real Estate prices in Manhattan are significantly higher than most places in KS.  It is highly desirable, homes that otherwise would be affordable are largely in the hands of landlords, and the property that goes on the market there is often bid up by developers or landlords looking to make it a multi-family home.  The zoning of the downtown area will hopefully over time result in better density as more and more of the Bluemont corridor is developed linking aggieville and downtown and the low density crap boxes are demolished.  This will relieve some pressure on both the rental and the purchase market as once the big zoning/construction wave happens there will be space for a smart developer to re-imagine some of the housing south of bluemont and east of the of park as a desirable neighborhood and would result in more single family homes as the larger apartments drive out smaller slumlords sitting on these homes.

this might take a while, because i have a feeling ft riley and subsequently mhk is about to take a pretty big hit. brac giveth (2005) and brac taketh away (2015).

NBAF tho

15

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: ask a townie

« on: March 16, 2015, 09:06:24 AM »

Do you resent all the Johnson County-fication? Like, the area near the mall now has zero character. It seems like there's just a never ending new development of strip malls with chain stores. Does that bum you out or do you appreciate the developments. I mean, everytime I go back a bunch more old houses with charm east of campus have been torn down to make room for more crappy cheap apartments.

^^ Typical JoCo resident post. Believe it or not, but this kind of development is not exclusive to Overland Park, Olathe, and Shawnee. There are other cities in the US that have shopping centers with several chain stores/restaurants near one another. Also, a lot of Manhattan's recent growth and attraction of those national chains has to do with the fact we eclipsed the 50K mark. That's usually a magic number of sorts when it comes to the Best Buys, Bed Bath & Beyonds, etc. opening up in a new location.

To answer your questions though, the big chains are good for Manhattan because they provide a lot of jobs. Also, the apartment boom of 5 years ago may have been overkill. Word on the street is that the supply in the rental market is far exceeding the demand.

The word on the street is coming from townie landlords who have never had to deal with a competitive rental market.

16

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: State of the State - case closed, money is bad for schools

« on: March 04, 2015, 06:46:08 PM »

Pretty crazy to think that the most money the state has ever spent on education is considered the least money ever spent on education. #science

When we re-define our terms, magic can happen!

Money is money.

 

17

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: How big a deal is a bad year?

« on: February 23, 2015, 08:00:23 PM »

rake, where do you rank oscar among Big 12 coaches?

big 12 coaches ranked:

1. hoiberg
2. self
3. kruger
4. huggins
5. drew
6. johnson
7. barnes
8. tubby
9. weber
10. ford

So what's the risk of firing Weber this year?

18

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: How big a deal is a bad year?

« on: February 23, 2015, 06:35:10 PM »

rake, where do you rank oscar among Big 12 coaches?

19

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Freedom of speech? Not for you ivory tower lib profs, but you're okay coach

« on: February 07, 2015, 01:31:13 PM »

If an institution at it's sole discretion wants to have a policy, then that's fine and to be hashed out internally at the institution.

Why does there need to be legislation?   

I also concur that if non real world living academics want to take the time in between planning their next sabbatical to tweet out absurdities . . . then by all means let them do it and worry about the ramifications after-the-fact.

Never would have guessed Dax was so anti-intelligence. Sad, really.

20

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Are you "Upper Middle Class"?

« on: February 04, 2015, 01:46:29 PM »

KSUW-

What level of taxation do you think would be acceptable and also provide all of the things you want out of government as well?

I'm thinking a flat tax on everyone of 10% (true tax - get rid of deductions and credits) to the Feds seems about right. Maybe another 10-15% to state/local government.

That's not too far from what you're paying now (unless you're eliminating property taxes?) It would probably raise the effective tax rate on most people.

It's quite possible that he could achieve a cumulative rate of 25 percent now too since there is quite a bit of discretion involved in several of the taxes he mentioned, it just wouldn't be in the proportions he desires.

21

Essentially Flyertalk / Re: What's your Myers-Briggs personality type?

« on: February 02, 2015, 08:43:27 PM »

Scholarly research shows ENTJs are just terrible.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/im-an-entj-destroyer-of-worlds,36075/

22

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Are you "Upper Middle Class"?

« on: February 02, 2015, 05:52:31 PM »

Social class is not only determined by income by most sociologists, including the late, great KSU prof Richard Coleman.

i think ultimately it has to be based on money, but clearly current income fails to capture the dynamic.  as an example, i've been upper middle class (actually rich by any relevant global measure, but my father would fight you if you called him rich) my entire life, based on my parents' income and assets.  my own income has been almost irrelevant to my social class for almost that entire span.

you could instead base status on cultural characters, like education or whatever.  but i think all/most of those ultimately stem from familial wealth.

So based on how people think about money?

I was raised upper-middle class and my wife was raised lower-middle class. There's a vast difference in the psychology of money between the two despite not being too far apart earnings wise.

You are supposed to marry for money bro, not the other way around.

Wife is the first in her family to graduate from college, now has three degrees and makes way more than I do.

23

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Are you "Upper Middle Class"?

« on: February 02, 2015, 01:31:09 PM »

Social class is not only determined by income by most sociologists, including the late, great KSU prof Richard Coleman.

i think ultimately it has to be based on money, but clearly current income fails to capture the dynamic.  as an example, i've been upper middle class (actually rich by any relevant global measure, but my father would fight you if you called him rich) my entire life, based on my parents' income and assets.  my own income has been almost irrelevant to my social class for almost that entire span.

you could instead base status on cultural characters, like education or whatever.  but i think all/most of those ultimately stem from familial wealth.

So based on how people think about money?

I was raised upper-middle class and my wife was raised lower-middle class. There's a vast difference in the psychology of money between the two despite not being too far apart earnings wise.

24

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Are you "Upper Middle Class"?

« on: February 01, 2015, 03:36:56 PM »

you're confusing marginal rates with overall rates.

No. JFC, it's so obvious that's not the case.

I ball parked a 22.5% effective tax rate for someone in the 28% tax bracket. Added 5% for state income tax and 7.5% fica, voila 35%.

i mean, i haven't done the calculations, but your numbers are significantly off.  so i made the obvious assumption.

I suppose it's obvious if you think 28+5+7.5=35.

Didn't realize the 190k was AGI when I was doing my ball parking for married no kids. If it was TI, I'd be close.

even at 190k of taxable income your estimate would be high, even if you were using the taxable income to calculate the effective rate 

HE'D BE CLOSE DAMN IT

25

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Are you "Upper Middle Class"?

« on: February 01, 2015, 02:12:14 PM »

In kansas, a married person who makes $190k (in entirely w-2 income) is at 35% before you even take into consideration property and sales tax... and the AMT.
 If they are SE it's over 42%

you're confusing marginal rates with overall rates.

No. JFC, it's so obvious that's not the case.

I ball parked a 22.5% effective tax rate for someone in the 28% tax bracket. Added 5% for state income tax and 7.5% fica, voila 35%.

I'm sorry if I'm off 1-2%, you rough ridin' morons.  Michigancat is just butthurt and acting like a baby, and you eff faces are only encouraging him.

AGI 190,000
Exemptions (6 X 4,000) 24,000
Standard Deduction ( 12,400)

154k taxable income

estimated taxes 31K

31k/190k = 16% effective FIT

And the chances that KSU takes a standard deduction is approximately 0.  So my guess is that his effective FIT rate is closer to like 12%

And actually probably lower than that. Hopefully KSU and his wife are maxing out retirement contributions, which is a luxury of having a large income and reduces AGI. Also health insurance premiums are pre-tax money, as is interest on student loans etc.