I'm not even bothering with any of this. I figure let the chips fall where they may at this point.
Same. Plus we moved from CO to VA this year so our taxes are more complicated than usual as it is, which makes trying to figure out something additional even more of a PITA, and the full impact of living in a higher-tax area isn't going to hit us until the new tax stuff is fully in place anyway. So ... sigh.
Although I did read an article in WaPo about how under the new tax plan, college boosters won't be able to deduct donations that are tied to season tickets any longer (no more "donate X amount to get a pair of season tickets" and be able to write that off on taxes), and there's a new tax on seven-figure salaries for employees of non-profits (apparently college athletic departments, including coaches with million-dollar salaries, are typically organized as non-profits). So it cheered me up a bit to think about millionaire coaches, mega-church pastors and the like paying more in taxes.
The institution pays the tax, not the million dollar coaches.
This whole thing is so horrible. My heart goes out to everyone affected.
The other big question is positive train control. The last few train tragedies we have had could have potentially been avoided with PTC. We do need more money to implement PTC, but seriously eff DJT so hard to suggest that he wants an infrastructure plan that would pay for that. his party has been gutting amtrak for years.
I fully expect that they're going to try to privatize it. Also ATC. Bye bye all funding for infrastructure unlikely to turn a profit, hello ALL THE TOLLS.
I struggle to see how private trains could turn a profit, except for select routes (NEC, auto train, certain other corridors). Privatization will kill the long distance routes. Amtrak formed bc the freight railroads couldn't turn a profit on passenger service.
That's why his tweet was gross and heartless.
All the train boards are speculating a few scenarios: something on the tracks which the lead engine hit before derailment, situational/route blindness by the engineer (what happened in philly - engineer doesn't realize curve is coming up and approaches too quickly) or engineer distracted by folks in his cab bc it's the inaugural run.
I don't think we will know for sure until the NTSB investigation is over. A very tragic day and my thoughts are with all the people on board and their families.
Post by LoveTrains on Dec 18, 2017 21:34:45 GMT -5
This whole thing is so horrible. My heart goes out to everyone affected.
There are still many, many questions. The engine that Susie saw on the track was at the end of the train, the leading engine derailed.
The train most likely jack-knifed with the leading cars going one direction and then the force of the curve forcing the other cars over the bridge in the other direction. It sounds like some of the cars may have been empty with less than 100 passengers on board.
The other big question is positive train control. The last few train tragedies we have had could have potentially been avoided with PTC. We do need more money to implement PTC, but seriously eff DJT so hard to suggest that he wants an infrastructure plan that would pay for that. his party has been gutting amtrak for years.
What ivies have gotten rid of need blind?!?! Brown announced today they are eliminating loans from financial aid packages awarded by the university. This initiative has a $120 million price tag (funded by donors).
True, but I think Dartmouth is talking about it. Some good, non-ivy schools have either gone to need-aware or do a combination. Tufts, Wesleyan, Grinnell, and a few others no longer do need-blind admissions, and Smith looks at financial need when it determines wait-list admissions now. And the only schools that guarantee grants to ALL students who need financial aid are MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Amherst, I think. And if your kid can get into any of those, she can probably get a full ride at other schools, too.
Some schools used to be need blind for all students, but now assess need for international students, which makes sense, since they normally have fewer financial aid avenues than domestic students.
You left out Bowdoin which also guarantees grants to the full need (no loan). And now Brown. Many internationals are full pay which is unsurprising.
Re The college stuff, my uncle is a retired college professor and he said that we shouldn’t even be saving for college because colleges just make up the difference anyway if they accept your kid, whatever that difference is. He said we should be focusing in retirement. I know the ivies do this but is the trend moving in this direction for other schools? Anyway he could be full of shit. He’s a math professor, not economics.
Some of the ivies and other prestigious schools match with grants for people with a HHI up to 100k. That said, over $100k and you're getting more student loans than grants. That's also only for a small selection of really top schools with huge endowments. Plus, more and more schools, ivies included, are moving towards NOT having needs-blind admissions. Regardless of their endowment, they need SOME students who can afford the full tuition. (Right, Jared Kushner?)
What ivies have gotten rid of need blind?!?! Brown announced today they are eliminating loans from financial aid packages awarded by the university. This initiative has a $120 million price tag (funded by donors).
I remember when we bought (both times, actually) the MM board was horrified at the mortgage amount vs. our income. But it was actually a good thing we stretched as our mortgage now is less than rents in our area.
Didn't your house nearly double in value? Good thing you didn't listen to MM! suckers!
I fully admit to being skeptical on affordability but I've finally come to terms that a lot has to do with state and local taxes. It's the no income tax in Washington that helps her budget.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 21, 2017 19:57:07 GMT -5
My state is rolling out real ID in 2019 and you can't use your passport. you have to produce a birth certificate and not your passport even though one needed a birth certificate to get a passport. Ugh.
WTF is going on😧 I'm trying to keep up & catch up, but it seems like they are changing the bill every hour!
New news?
We talked about this earlier. Two things - making graduate students pay taxes on tuition waivers as income will be a huge increase. For example if you are a phd candidate you might get a $20k stipend (income) and free tuition that's valued at $50k. New plan wants student to pay taxes on $70k instead of $20k.
There is also a proposed 1.4% excise tax on university endowment gains. That money is used now by universities for financial aid. Less $$$ for financial aid = tuition increase.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 14, 2017 23:26:27 GMT -5
A lease is never a good MM decision. That's ok if you have the cash to burn long term and you recognize that. But don't dissuade yourself into thinking it's a good deal or MM bc the numbers are what the numbers are. That being said, there is more to life than being MM.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 14, 2017 21:15:34 GMT -5
55%.
Mother effing taxes. I only do 12% to my 403(b). It's over 30% for FICA and federal/state tax withholdings. And nope, I don't get a huge refund, I normally get a refund in the hundreds of dollars at the end of the year.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 14, 2017 20:52:12 GMT -5
I used to feed my fat pug an entire carrot a day. It was his night time snack after his dinner and he would whine and whine until he got it. But he didn't notice when I cut his kibble at nighttime in half to account for the carrot and it was so much better.
Post by LoveTrains on Nov 12, 2017 16:10:59 GMT -5
Hari is hilarious and I'm also glad to see him taking on this issue. I wish him much success in life. I met him many years ago and he was always nice and funny.
The other thing horrible for students is the proposed 1.4% excise tax on endowment income for universities. Endowment income funds scholarships/financial aid!!! So taxing endowment income will cause tuition to rise.
Yeah, I get so fucked by this, and I don't even have children. My itemized deductions are right around $25-26K, but without being able to deduct state income taxes, I would drop below. Then I lose the $8K exemption for me and H. So what was $34K in deductions/exemptions becomes $24K.
So to play devils advocate, I went to Acadia in Maine this summer. It was WAY too crowded. That many people puts a huge impact on the land. There was no parking at the top of Cadillac mountain and cars were idling with huge traffic jams. That's not great for the environment. How do we balance access with conservation? There has to be a better way than the cluster at Acadia.
You institute a lottery and/or create public transportation and limit cars in the parks.
The Grand Canyon has a lottery for rafting down the river. Denali has a lottery for bringing your car into the park, but there is a park bus everyone can use. There's a limited number of daily permits to enter fiery furnace in Arches. They are given out on a first come, first serve basis.
Income shouldn't be the deciding factor in who gets to use the parks.
All excellent ideas! I was just really shocked at the situation in Acadia. There are park buses in Acadia that some people use. It would be a great idea to expand the parking lot at the entrance and then limit the cars. That would avoid the situation at the top of Cadillac mountain for sure.
Post by LoveTrains on Oct 26, 2017 22:31:51 GMT -5
So to play devils advocate, I went to Acadia in Maine this summer. It was WAY too crowded. That many people puts a huge impact on the land. There was no parking at the top of Cadillac mountain and cars were idling with huge traffic jams. That's not great for the environment. How do we balance access with conservation? There has to be a better way than the cluster at Acadia.
Post by LoveTrains on Oct 26, 2017 20:07:57 GMT -5
I don't even have kids and I feel a bit of this. I get complaints about not being able to "help around the house" when in reality I still do all of the mental load/planning and he just doesn't get it. When I suggest we outsource stuff its like he doesnt' want to spend the money or *I* have to make the time to find someone to hire. Where I wish he would find a gardener, he isn't in meetings with VPs all day like I am. I literally don't have time to make a phone call as my day is heavily scheduled at the office.
Post by LoveTrains on Oct 15, 2017 12:22:40 GMT -5
The main/oldest building at Brown University was built by slave labor. The university established the Center for Slavery and Justice to inspire interdisciplinary study about the historical legacy in this. Ruth Simmons, the previous president, was amazing and instrumental in asking the community to look inward and explore the institution's connection to slavery. I would suggest that more universities should undertake this type of study.
There is also an interesting documentary done by a member of the DeWolf family who made their fortune in the slave trade. It's called Traces of the Trade.