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Larry T. Spider

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Everything posted by Larry T. Spider

  1. These people are why we can’t have nice things as a country.
  2. I’m talking specifically about Austin ISD, recapture, and how that impacts bond decisions. This year we are submitting a 612 million dollar payment to the state, which is 46% of all local revenue. It is also equal to the total salaries of all district employees from bus drivers to the superintendent. This requires the district to operate on bond money that stays 100% local and can’t be raided by the state, but further fucks Austin taxpayers. Then we can’t have nice things. Thanks for coming to my ted talk.
  3. I live it everyday. It’s common sense to anybody that knows the details but then you get into how to fix it and looking at which members of the legislature are completely fine with fucking Austin over....and away we go.
  4. I don’t even think self driving cars would change my perception of uber too much. Right now they have a virtually unlimited fleet and they don’t pay for the vehicle, gas, wear and tear, insurance, etc. The current fleet fluctuates with need as there are more drivers out on New Years even and Halloween. With self driving cars they would have to purchase enough to meet the high demand times, which means they are sitting around most of the time. It seems expensive and inefficient. They are smart enough to think of a solution, but passengers are rough on the cars even with the driver in it. I can’t imagine what people will do when there isn’t one. Lots of bodily fluids going on. Right now uber has people that cleans the cars for free...
  5. I know Ski Shores was opening up a second location down there. I’m guessing it’s going into the uncle Billy’s spot since it’s the same owner. He owns a ton of stuff around Austin including Austin java and little woodrows. He’s a fun guy.
  6. If the state (Robin Hood) would quit taking 46% (yes, that’s the real number) of the taxes collected by Austin ISD, we would pass fewer bonds. The state can’t raid the bond money so it’s a necessity. I’ll stop there to avoid CR.
  7. Its really important to women. I’m dealing with all of the emotions related to missing 5th grade graduation. Haven’t heard from a dad yet.
  8. Yeah, this is clearly a play to save the economy in the short term. He just needs to get a few numbers over the summer that show things are on the rise, even if ever so slightly. Then he goes on a tour declaring victory over the worst pandemic the world has ever seen. The jackasses will be crowing about how he saved the day and we would be in the next Great Depression if sleepy joe was in charge. Of course, people will still be dying while all of this is going on, and maybe at a higher level than now.
  9. They are foolish to give them money, but uber sees themselves as a technology company first and a rideshare company second. They sell investors on all these innovative ideas they have in R&D. They point to how they basically created the rideshare industry and took it world wide to build credibility that they can do the same elsewhere. They also have an incredible amount of data about their customers. They know what your battery percentage is and that you will pay more for a ride when it’s closer to zero, amongst many other details.
  10. It’s this and that they have already played so many games to get more of the fare. They are running out of options. I don’t see them going away though because investors will keep throwing money at them.
  11. Response was....surly
  12. He was 87, so not too many points available. Not sure anybody on my list has scored yet. Half way through the year almost and a worldwide pandemic. I’m the Shaka of death pools.
  13. Why should we defend their oil supply while they intentionally flood the market? All that oil is worthless now anyway. Don’t need Patriot missiles to defend something with the value of a ‘92 Oldsmobile.
  14. So is that a buyer beware situation or on the broker for having non-functional software. Not that it really matters, that guy doesn’t have 9 mil anyway.
  15. It works by taking a finger-prick drop of blood and, through sophisticated micro-processing, arrives at a result within 30 to 45 seconds. The device costs $15 and the test strip kit costs $30. That’s why companies are interested. “Businesses can test their workers as often as they want, in a matter of seconds, everyday if they like,” said Berman. It’s not free, but it is an affordable enough technology that could open up restaurants, movies, all manner of businesses and group venues. The company hopes to have all the FDA-mandated testing done by next week. If approved, Berman says they could ship as many as 100,000 units immediately and be making up to 400,000 a week within 60 days. So hoping for a bump before people figure out this is the next Theranos?
  16. I’m good at that. Target exit price? One miiiiiilion dollars?
  17. I’m on TD. What’s the strategy with decn? I might be willing to stonk it up.
  18. Your first paragraph is spot on. It used to be more profitable, but that attracted more drivers and now there is a glut of drivers willing to drive for nothing. It’s an ok part time gig if you only drive the busiest hours. The medallion idea goes against everything uber and lyft are doing. They want the market flooded with the cheapest labor possible. When I was still driving, the market was completely over saturated and they were constantly running ads for more drivers. Ride Austin basically tried to create that system where the driver got most of the money and with minimal fees. People used uber and lyft. I don’t see any new companies entering the market because it would just further the competition and the race to the bottom. Undercut the competition at your own expense is the name of the game and uber has billions from the saudis coming in to prop them up. Good luck beating that.
  19. The regular old auto pedestrian deaths were getting stale. Had to up the game.
  20. TLDR: rideshare is a dead business I drove for uber as a side hustle for just under 5 years. To say they have a poor relationship with their workforce is an understatement. It’s all out hatred. I love many aspects of a choose your own hours side hustle that’s only fun money. But the pay, driver support, and general sketchiness of the company makes me happy that I don’t work for them anymore. For those of you that don’t know, what the rider pays is in no way connected to what the driver gets anymore. They quote the rider an upfront amount using an algorithm to determine what you are likely to be willing to pay. Then they pay the driver a low wage by the mile and the minute. The difference is what they keep, and it grew to a number that would no longer allow me to work for them. One of my last trips was a girl that was charged $28. My cut was $13....minus gas, taxes, wear and tear. The discrepancy is larger if it’s surge pricing. Lyft pays even less now. People always ask why anybody would drive for them. Two types. Type 1 just wants some extra money and probably won’t last long. Type 2 is a full time driver who is desperate. These people basically live in their car cars working around the clock. Driver quality has taken a drastic turn for the worse in the last two years. When McDonald’s pays more than you, it’s what you’re going to get. Cab companies are scum. Unfortunately rideshare turned into a race to the bottom with both major companies cutting rates time after time. I could see it becoming profitable but I don’t see how it will ever be a big money maker. They have tried so many tricks to get a bigger share of the money and still aren’t profiting shit.
  21. Yeah, I was just playing around with it and gave all the tops ups to trump. Biden still wins by 20. I know Dems have been bitching about the electoral college lately but it could easily lock up dem victories when a few states flip. When republicans have to start spending time and money defending places like North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas - it’s all over. Also, fwiw in electoral college map above and in all of my comments I’m just giving republicans Florida and Ohio.
  22. June can get really hot but I’m usually not beaten down yet. I feel like our summers wear you out by how long they go on more than the actual number on the thermometer. I will hate 97 in September more than 105 in June.
  23. Yeah, I’m team “this is great weather”. Trying to soak up every minute of it because July, August, September, and the first couple of weeks of October will make me wonder why I live here.
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