u/Naive_Bat8216

I'm a fingerstyle guitarist primarily, but recently picked up a pick again and was very rusty. I notice that when I do scales I usually incorporate a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs, not necessarily because I always want to, but mostly because it's the only way I'll get the scale done with any kind of speed or finesse. If I try to alternate pick the entire scale, I often fumble or have to go much slower.

Which brings me to my question, primarily for advanced players, are you folks pretty much sticking to alternate (up-down-up-down) picking, or are you doing multiple down strokes across two or more strings when the opportunity arises to pick up speed? (like a Frank Gambale sweep picking technique).

Just wondering how I should go about practicing my picking and whether to pretty much stick to up-down or incorporate double down-strokes where convenient.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

Thank you!

Can anyone tell me why you pay over $100/month for direct TV? I'm seriously considering cancelling, but I want to hear why you have it. I like movies, and it's the same movies over and over interrupted by sitcoms. Used to love IFC, and now it's "Everyone Loves Raymond" for most of the channel. Used to love AMC, now the programming sucks and it's all edited.

Why do you still pay all this money for Direct TV? Want to know what you see in it that I'm missing. Otherwise, I'm cutting the cord.

Thanks,

Nebius up, doing well, while IREN is down along with many other miners. Is this telling us that the hyperscalers have chosen who they like and the rest are just pretenders?

I'm staining the outside of my house, and need to reach at about 25 feet. So, bought a 24 foot ladder and leaned it up against the house, started to climb, and well, felt fear for my life. Not sure if that height is just something I need to get used to or if I should be using scaffolding for this for safety and sanity.

Anyone else try a ladder for that height and figure "no way" and go to scaffolding? Or, do I just need to climb the ladder a few times to get over my fears (of falling off, broken back, and paralyzed for life, that kind of thing . . .)

Thanks!

Keel Infrastructure, 3.70B market cap, $6/share. White Fiber was $10/share back in April. Are we on the verge of a surge for Keel?

Anyone else considering other opportunities and getting tired of your money being tied up in CS? My concern is that the wave of deals has passed and that miners who have not yet secured major hyper scaler deals won't, or they'll be minor ones. Is that concern justified?

Should we even expect a deal anymore? I'm just trying to gauge how realistic it is at this point. I know the hyper scalers need power, but could it be that CS just isn't suitable for what they need? You'd think if it is, they'd have signed already.

Would appreciate your take on how you see things.

Thanks,

Bear spray seems to be so super expensive, anyone ever try this brand to save a few dollars? I just want to make sure it works and that I don't regret saving a few bucks if ever I'm looking into the eyes of an angry grizzly.

Amazon.com : POPFRO Pepper Spray Outdoor Easy Carry and Fast Access Self Defense Deterrent for Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Powerful Blast Pattern Safety for Both Women and Men Quick Release 6.7OZ : Sports & Outdoors

Which of these two stocks, KEEL or HIVE, has a better chance of reaching $20/share before the other if they both experience a surge?

Keel has 603.83 million shares outstanding, while Hive has 253.26 million.

All else equal, if both get lucrative hyper-scaler deals, based on shares outstanding alone, isn't it harder for Keel to get to 20/share than it is Hive, or do I have that wrong? If there is a sudden influx of buyers of shares, won't it take longer (and be harder) for Keel to rise in share price compared to Hive because Keel's shares are more diluted? (603 vs. 253)

Thanks,

Here's my understanding, data center activism is good for Keel, because the less data centers constructed, the less supply, and the more valuable Keel's energy is. Keel already has their sites established, so if other sites are prevented from being constructed, Keel's energy becomes like a rare mineral demanding top dollar.

Am I wrong?

From what I read, Keel is expected to generate revenue by next year 2027 after they sign some lease tenants. Will that revenue be enough to reduce or eliminate financial stress as the company moves into AI data center power full time?

I know they have 533 million, just wondering how thin things could get if there are any delays in their ability to execute this plan. Like if there is a delay in signing or execution, do they have enough funds to tie them over until revenue starts rolling in?

I don't know the figures, just trying to estimate their profitability moving forward and risk of being in trouble if there are delays.

Thanks,

All are down and down significantly. Seems to be all centered around the fears of AI being catastrophic to these companies, but every source I consult says the fears are overblown and AI will actually be GOOD for these companies moving forward.

Is there any reason to not throw money left and right at all these companies given their lows? Is the market overreacting and being irrational? If so, then it would seem it's only a matter of time before these stocks come back.

Thanks,

Can someone explain how a company that IBM has invested in and Morgan Stanley have recently bought shares in, can be under a dollar? If they get delisted, is that pretty much the end of our shares?

I'm not invested yet, but wondering if I should take the plunge. I'm just trying to get some clarity on where they stand, they seem to be making some good deals, yet the share price is under a dollar and they are at a threat of being delisted. Why would IBM invest in a company that is so bad, and why would Morgan Stanley buy shares?

Are they at risk of needing to restructure or close shop? If they are, why is IBM partnering with them?

Would appreciate any clarification, thank you!

I have about 100k in a taxable E-trade account. I'd like to trade stocks often (even daily) without triggering a taxable event on each sale that I profit on. Is there any way to do this other than slowly establishing an IRA by transferring the yearly allowed limit (I think it's 7-8k this year?). There is no way I can set up an account to day trade without incurring capital gains on each profit, is there?

The fear of capital gains tax on each sale I find is really restricting my flexibility when it comes to trading, so I'm looking for a solution.

Thanks,

I would be interested in hearing opinions on this. It seems to me that many people are afraid to FIRE because of what the future could hold regarding healthcare costs, and the idea of not having a regular income from a job is kind of terrifying in that regard. However, should that really be a barrier for FIRE? Here's my argument, I'd welcome feedback on it:

Suppose you're 50 years of age, and if you retire, can live quite comfortably on 40k/year from investments and a bit of part-time work (house paid off, very minimalist lifestyle). You're able to also purchase private insurance from the marketplace and get a nice subsidy to help with premiums, making premium costs totally affordable with an out-of-pocket max anywhere between 5k to 8k. On that 40k/year, even if health hardship occurred over several years, assuming there would be some costs beyond the out-of-pocket max, you'd most likely have to declare medical bankruptcy.

However, would the situation be that much different if you had an extra 300k in the bank and thus were "better prepared to FIRE?" because you have a stronger safety net? My argument is yes, for small to medium healthcare expenses, but if something catastrophic occurred, you'd most likely still go bankrupt, it would just take longer as the 300k you do have would get drained probably pretty quickly.

My argument is that so long as you can survive nicely on the 40k/year, have a decent healthcare plan from the marketplace, and can afford short-term medical costs within the out-of-pocket max, delaying FIRE for the sole purpose to save up and guard against catastrophic illness/accident is a waste of years in the workforce because if the worst did happen, you'd most likely only be delaying medical bankruptcy anyway and all those savings would be depleted first anyway.

What do you think? If you can fire at 50, does it make sense to delay FIRING another 5 years simply to save up cash to somehow guard against the myriad of healthcare scenarios that could ever happen? Would appreciate opinions on this.

Thanks,

Is anyone else here pissed as hell about Trump and economy? 25 billion on a war, no help for healthcare, gas prices through the roof, and protein nobody can afford on their grocery bill. I paid $10 for a pack of coffee at Walmart that used to cost about $6, and see slabs of beef so ridiculously priced that I don't even know what's going on anymore. Yet, we still have to eat. I'm buying potatoes now because they seem to be the only things that are decently priced anymore.

Yes, I'm here to rant and vent. WTF is going on in this country? Gas prices and food prices are insane, and nobody is addressing the healthcare premium issue that families cannot even afford, never mind if anyone gets sick and they are faced with a deductible.

The 25 billion could have helped us a lot instead of padding Trump's big ego. It's just gone too far, I'm usually not political, but I'm feeling such anger at how much this country is being mismanaged while ordinary citizens are paying the brunt of Trump's massive mistakes and careless governing. I thought for sure Congress would address the health care premiums issue, but nobody is doing a damn thing while our paychecks are being swallowed by premiums, couple that with gas and food prices, how are people even surviving these days?

That 25 billion is OUR money, all those taxes we paid last month, and we are getting NOTHING for it. The Iran war was not justifiable. I don't mind paying some tax, but I like to get something from it other than killing innocent school girls in Iran. I am so pissed.

P.S. I never am one to complain about government that much, I don't usually post things like this. I just feel like things have gone too far and Americans are just tolerating it. I know we have the power to vote, but it can't come soon enough, we have over 2 years and more of this crap and nobody can afford it $$$. Trump has done nothing but screw up this country, violated our constitutional rights, and made it almost impossible economically to live in this country. Are there any pros to what Trump has done at all? Could he have done any worse so far in his presidency? What has he done for you and I who pay big taxes?

I feel like I'm about to enter a hockey winter, meaning I just don't give a crap anymore. The one thing I really liked about the Islanders was having Patrick Roy behind the bench, and I still can't believe he was discarded like yesterday's newspaper with 4 games left. Slap in the face to a legend, and then to see the Isles lose their remaining games as well was pathetic. Just think had Al Arbour been fired because of those early difficult seasons, and the Isles weren't even expected to do anything this year and Roy still got fired. The way Roy was let go with 4 games left was a disgrace to him. He gave his heart to this team, and they don't even let him finish the season. FU Darche.

Anyone else feel this way, like you need to stop watching and following for a while? I'm there, I'm not renewing my NHL TV subscription for the coming year and if the Isles make a good run I'll watch again, but I feel gutted after Roy was fired. Even with the playoffs right now, I don't really care much, I'll watch the Cup final. In years past, we could watch on TNT for free, now ESPN has many games and I refuse to upgrade.

Do any of you really care anymore about this team or the NHL in general?