Thanks for the kind words. Not everyone would agree with you. When I started, I had visions of me being the technical administrator and others handling any kind of user issues. Unfortunately that's not how it played out: the buck ends up stopping with me, and I don't really like that, but it's been ...

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 10:13 am Xan: the best forum steward on the internet!

I'm glad you think so! I fear I've disappointed many of you on this private message thing, though. There isn't much that I could do to improve the situation, I don't think.

Oh I should also point out that in theory, Linode has access to all this too! And even more in theory and less likely, the people who run the datacenter.

In terms of private messages, this isn't different from your email provider. Unless you are hosting your own email, then your provider has access to all your email. If it's stored on their server, they have access to it, and if it so much as passes through their server on its way to you, they could ...

When Craig stepped back from the forum, he did so completely. In fact he had originally planned for it to disappear. He hasn't had anything to do with the forum, other than being a member, for many years. The forum is hosted on a Linode rented by me. I administer the (virtual) server. I have access ...

Yes, only the people who actually run the site would be able to read private messages, not run-of-the-mill moderators or even admins.

Can Meta read Whatsapp messages? https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1qngizc/lawsuit_alleges_meta_can_read_whatsapp_messages/ I just checked to confirm that you are part of this forum's team. Can any person on the team read any of private forum communications with one another? That is impo...

The big question is, how much is temporary and how much is permanent?

Maybe you're right, Vinny. Also I thought one of the worst things about a potential Harris presidency was that she wanted to do price controls. Now suddenly Trump is not only for price controls (at least for credit card interest), but he's for government ownership of companies. Isn't that straight-u...

"We need Greenland for national security." My understanding is that we have an existing agreement that lets us do virtually anything we need militarily in Greenland. It's also under the control of an ally. Is Trump really willing to blow up NATO in order to attempt to seize Greenland? Why?...

dualstow wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 8:29 pm At least at the beginning.

Could you expand on that, Dualstow?

Hi All, I do occassional lurking, but wanted to post and say hello to all. I'm still doing my Permanent Portfolio and have been to the US several times for work and see family. Things in the US (and New Zealand) have gotten very expensive as all the govt. spending is catching up and the bill is due...

Ice report from here: it's a bit chillier today, but it was around 80 degrees yesterday. I didn't observe any ice.

Please tell us something about yourself.

What do you mean by portfolio? In particular, are you including the primary residence? (I'm assuming, if so, that the amount of equity in the house is what would be counted.) I understand the common practice is to consider primary residence as part of total net worth but not as part of investment p...

What do you mean by portfolio? In particular, are you including the primary residence? (I'm assuming, if so, that the amount of equity in the house is what would be counted.)

<r><QUOTE author="Matthew19" post_id="259561" time="1766267452" user_id="2404"><s>[quote=Matthew19 post_id=259561 time=1766267452 user_id=2404]</s> <QUOTE author="mathjak107" post_id="259495" time="1764606887" user_id="2413"><s>[quote=mathjak107 post_id=259495 time=1764606887 user_id=2413]</s> at th...

I just wanted to ask if anyone here has done a recent comparison between Fidelity’s HSA investment options and what’s available through other providers like Lively or Schwab. Some of the fund lineups have changed over the years, and I’m wondering if the fees and flexibility still give Fidelity the ...

Eh, who has time to watch a video? O0 Me! Under the right circumstances. If I'm doing reading / writing on the computer I cannot listen to anything with words. However, if I am doing work on the computer that is fairly repetitive, I can listen to words. Can listen to music while doing anything. Als...

There's this phenomenon that's starting to be named "luxury poverty" to describe a sort of inversion of the historical norm; now poor people can now afford the latest iPhone and a nice vehicle (at least through long-term financing) but there's no possible chance they can live in a good pa...

Studies show that .99738 of Vinny’s posts have very specific dates and statistics in them. But... the extra game in 1978 was on October 2, not October 1. It was a "very specific date", albeit off by one day, going by memory... I'm just giving you a hard time, Vinny, it's very impressive.

dualstow wrote: ↑Mon Nov 03, 2025 5:53 amStudies show that .99738 of Vinny’s posts have very specific dates and statistics in them.

But... the extra game in 1978 was on October 2, not October 1.

I find it doubtful that they are unsalable. Not easily salable? At any rate, I don’t expect the thieves have a lot of respect for the pieces as a whole. That only happens in movies. However, are there not always private collectors who don't care that that they are stolen and are willing to pay big ...

Nobody had gotten 4 extra base hits in the World Series since 1906. Nobody had ever been intentionally walked 4 times in a postseason game.

Ohtani did both in the same game.

Completely tangential: your mention of Meet the Press reminded me of the music "The Mission" by John Williams. It was commissioned by NBC News in 1985. The first movement contains the iconic trumpet fanfare used for the nightly news, and the fourth and final movement was (still is?) used a...