Look at Ray Ray Run

By the way, comparing loans you can default on to a loan you cannot does not really work. The bank isn't investing in you for a mortgage. The government is absolutely investing in you with a college loan because they are giving you a loan with no real income or collateral being held.

I have no issues with tax dollars; they are a necessary evil. I just want them to be appropriated properly. I just find it ironic that you judge people of less fortune when you, yourself, depended on others to pay for your education. Others aren't so lucky for that to be an option. You think it was hard work that got you where you are, but would you be there if you had to pay yourself? Why didn't you work hard - outside the military - to pay your own tuition? Why did you chose a route in which tax payers pay if it's all about how hard one works? I grew up in River Forest - struggling is not something I have personally endured... far from it, but I have met and worked with people of all walks of life who did not have the privileges I was given growing up - a great school system, parents that could support me to the point where that never was a concern for me, and supportive parents who pushed and motivated me because they could afford Montessori schools, great child care and etc. What you fail to understand is that those are huge benefits, and judging those who don't receive them is naive. When you are worried about whether or not your mom will eat tonight or have enough food for you... worried about whether you can walk to the closest place with wifi because it's night time and dangerous... maybe then you'll understand that obstacles can deter a childs path to success much easier than adults - who themselves are already easily taken off task. Children that have to worry about every thing in their lives - unable to simply focus on school and friends etc - are going to have a harder time achieving the goals that someone without those speed bumps has. It's just a fact of life. The whole... work hard and succeed thing is obviously nonsensical. It's why parental income is correlated so heavily to childrens success.

Yes, it is a cash grab that also increases the education level of the country. In no way was I patting the government on the back for this; it's merely a reason they will use to rationalize the loan offerings to people without incomes. It is viewed as an investment.

No, no bet with $200 limits and a 40% hold has a decent amount of actual sharp money in there. Any market that can be influenced dramatically by a $400 bet is not a market that is heavily invested nor is it one that can properly predict anything.

Not at all. No market that is effected dramatically by a $200 investment is efficient. Efficiency in gambling and financial markets are directly correlated to the total amount of money invested. The less money invested the less efficient the market. This is why props with $200 limits are not good market indicators and are merely there for "fun."

The military... I should have known that was the nonsensical place you were headed with this discussion. No biggie. Have a good one. I'm just glad my tax dollars got to pay for The Sir's education while he passes judgement on others who are less fortunate.

Also very true, which makes it that much worse in my opinion. The entire system is so top heavy and no one cares about the majority of the bottom.

Yes, an environment in which the majority of kids aren't there focusing on learning because they have bigger concerns in their lives. If you think the CPS environment is that of one which is pro-learning, you are in denial.

Wait, I'm confused... The Sir just made some posts saying that he essentially went to school for free and earned two degrees by working so hard... then three posts later he says: "I graduated college with no savings and a bunch of student loans. I now have a ton in savings and no loan debt. Who did that? ME." So... did you go to school for practically free, or did you take on a lot of debt to do it? You are taking this as an attack on your work ethic, when it's not, but you are showing a very ignorant and naive view of the opportunities you were given that most kids are not.

Once again... complete nonsense. If I give you $1000 to invest, sure you could turn that into $10,000 or $100,000 - everyone has the same opportunity... but if someone else was given $50,000 they have a much better chance to turn it into $100,000. Both were given an opportunity but one opportunity put them in a much better position. You teach in those schools - or whatever you do. You have no idea what it's like to be a teenager growing up and developing an environment that tries to suppress their desire to learn. You were granted privileges those kids never were yet you want to judge them for not overcoming things you've never experienced it. Its nonsense.

That's not really a "better" system imo.

Because student loans are the government investing in their own people. It's an investment loan granted by the government under the premise that an educated country is a more prosperous one and that college leads to higher earnings to pay you back.

This is complete nonsense. You clearly have no idea about the differences between education at good and bad elementary/middle and high schools. A lot of kids do not have a computer or internet. They dont have updated text books. Their classrooms are difficult to focus in as many kids arent their to learn. There is genuine fear about being the smart/book nerd kid at some CPS schools. Everyone does not have the same opportunity as you. Some people who come for a lot or even middle class up bringing have a really difficult time understanding how lucky they were. Frequently they accredit their success to their hard work - completely ignoring the immense opportunity they had and were given.

7 years, 230 with opt out at 4 and team opt in at 3 for 8 /250 .

Yes, any good company and accounting team should easily be able to do this for you.

Yes. I got married this year and my wife was not working so I received a refund for the first time - but ideally, since I run the department for my company - I'd like to get a zero refund. It's not a bad way to use the government to save if that's a problem for you, but otherwise you could be putting that money to work.

You should be analyzing your total tax liability not your refund. Your effective tax rate is simply your taxes paid divided by your gross income. That's the only way to determine your tax break or lack there of. Your refund means nothing.

A refund is simply an interest free loan to the government. Getting it back little by little literally means you make more money. Meaning your paychecks are bigger and hence the tax break.

You still need to file your offshore earnings yearly even if you dont withdrawal. If you dont, you're gonna have a hard time when you decide to pull money out of the accounts. Illinois is in bad shape because its broke and cant afford the pensions. No elected official was going to balance the state and lower taxes. It was literally impossible. Illinois needs to allocate the tax dollars properly but the taxes are high because of past benefits and guarantees. No current politician is going to fix that in a year. Rauner was headed in a decent direction but because Trump is such an asshat, we elected Pritzker who is as big of a scamming piece of garbage as trump.

How does Machado limit our trade possibilities? Machado sends anderson or moncada to centerfield. Adding another outfield asset just as signing Bryce does. Difference is manny fill a void - 3rd base - and Harper would not.

Who said studs? they need a place to play. Outfield is the deepest position in their system. To then spend 300 million on another OF asset when Eloy already has a job and Robert was paid what he was is a waste of capital.

No... Trout struggled his first taste of big league baseball. That was my point. Even one of the greatest players of all-time wasn't great out of the gate.

What major problem? How are the closest thing in the minors to solving it many years away? This year, in AAA and AA the Sox will have: Luis Gonzalez Basebe Rutherford may be there Micker should be on a fast track assuming health is there ETA for Gonzalez and Basebe would be 2020 - possibly, if all things go well I wouldn't be shocked to see one of them in 2019. Micker you could realistically put at late 2020 as an ETA. Rutherford is probably the furthest out and we're talking 2021 there. Also, if the Sox sign Manny, then Anderson or Moncada may be shifting to the outfield. This doesn't even account for Robert who, if he succeeds this year, will be fast tracked given his contract and expectations. To say the closest thing is many years away is just wrong. I'm not sure why it's better to trade from depth than depend on it. That's an odd thing to say.

Mike Trout had a 672 OPS in his first 40 big league games.

Why? Deadlines work in every other sport. This off season is terrible for baseball. A deadline should absolutely exist.