DHonks

I think arm in RF is overrated. I want guys that can catch the ball and cutoff things. How often does a big arm in RF really help? 5-10 times in a season? At first glimpse, we gave up a ton. However, this is a good prospect trade. We may have just given the Marlins 3 all-stars and a solid 3rd starter. Then again, they could all flop

I worry that as Crypto has grown and become accepted, it's going to face challenges with governments. In the US, the gov't is investigating why holders of Bitcoin haven't been reporting their profits as cap gains on their returns. It's also supposedly the preferred currency for rogue nations (North Korea supposedly is VERY active in crypto) and organized crime. It's really intriguing, but gov'ts will scrutinize this more

Real Men

I have been hearing "Social Security" will be gone all my life. That isn't going to happen. Look at the outrage whenever they even hint at changing anything. They can raise the age, they can tinker with means testing, but there will be SS. As far as 20 somethings saving more than any previous generation, I don't believe that. Years ago, before 401k, it was commonplace for employers to offer pensions, and most people had full time jobs. The 20 something generation is underemployed, and they have to voluntarily sign up for 401k. So I can't believe that combination would equal saving more than a generation who all had pensions. You never know how true these studies are, and then they always change. For example, just heard earlier this week that 50% of all Americans couldn't write a check for $500 if they had to. FVBrewerfan, Social Security will be here. It doesn't pay out very much on average now (a little over $1200/month on average), and it will only pay out less. Created in the 1930s, the Social Security Trust Fund ran a surplus until 2009. Beginning in 2010 (I believe in part due to the Obama temporary tax cut), the SSA began collecting less money annually than it was due to pay out. Therefore, the Trust Fund was tapped into. By 2033 the Trust Fund will be drained and tax collections will only cover 75% of expenditures. Therefore, massive changes will be needed, likely a combination of tax increases, benefit cuts, means testing, and increasing the eligibility age. Perhaps SSA will also stop some of it's long-term disability coverage. In 2033, the Social Security shortfall is projected at over $600B. Congress needs to do something about this. They should have done something about this years ago. That's why all people today need to be investing. I love asking my students if they could save $5 every pay period, and they all raise their hands. Then point out that at normal growth rates, $5/pay period would amass $40k+ of wealth by retirement age. We can all do a better job of this.

Some things to note from this thread: -new analysis debunks the myth that it's better to switch more conservatively as one gets older. In general, an equities-based strategy will yield better results -20 somethings are actually saving more for retirement than any previous generation. It's misleading though, as it is because many companies are realizing the benefits of automatically enrolling their new hires in retirement plans. I wish it were because of financial responsibility, since I teach this in class, but it's not. -real estate seems safe, until there's a bubble. I know people in AZ that were well over 100k underwater on their homes nearly a decade after the crisis. -if you're under 50, don't plan on Social Security. Our politicians have screwed us over by continuing to pander to old people at the expense of the young. In 2033 we're going to be in serious trouble. I warn all my students that they cannot rely on Social Security in its current form. It is not viable, and our politicians are afraid to deal with it.

my understanding in the 90s was that it wasn't the Petits, but rather the NHL's over-expansion, ridiculous expansion fees, etc. Hard to blame a couple that spent so much to bring hockey to Milwaukee

Growing up in the Milwaukee area, I knew nobody that played hockey. My high school did have a decent team, though. It's weird, here in Arizona I've known a lot of people that play hockey. My school has a club team as well. It's really been surprising how hockey is bigger in Scottsdale than in Milwaukee to many people.