ShadowFaxSam's comments

ShadowFaxSam | 6 years ago | on: I quit social media and now I want a cigarette

I've always reflected on the idea of deleting my social media accounts, especially after studying media in University. The more I learn about social media, and other forms of media the more aware I am with regards to what I post and share online. At the same time, I have friends all across the globe and use social media to stay in contact with my friends. I have a question though, would you consider Whatsapp to be social media? Especially because users can share stories on the platform.

ShadowFaxSam | 6 years ago | on: Scooter Brand Prix Revs Up in Race to Stay on Streets of Paris

As someone who frequently uses E - scooters in a major European city i can see both sides to the argument on rather or not the6y should be banned. While they are convenient, there is minimal supervision in terms of following regulations and they are dumped around the city. That being said, they are fun and make getting around a city a lot easier, especially if trams are delayed or busy.

ShadowFaxSam | 6 years ago | on: Pakistan to ban single-use plastic bags

There should be more countries who are also taking these steps in order to help reduce waste and help the environment. We are fully aware of the harm plastic bags cause and there are many other alternative including paper or reusable bags.

ShadowFaxSam | 6 years ago | on: A Man with the Golden Airline Ticket

I am without words after reading this article. Very well done, and raised many questions regarding failed marketing strategies as well as to what lengths some major corporations will go to.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: In Germany, the use of cash has become a proxy for concerns about trust, privacy

>That's because German vendors are hopeless at processing cards.

I could not agree more with the process you described every time I pay with a card in Germany. Germans point to this inefficient process for the reason cash is faster.

However, when I lived in the US, Australia, and NZ you literally tap your card with paywave and the transaction is complete. It is impossible for a cash transaction to be faster than this.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: In Germany, the use of cash has become a proxy for concerns about trust, privacy

>Yet for many Germans, the convenience of electronic payment is beside the point. Rather, the use of cash has, to a surprising extent, become a proxy for profound concerns about trust, privacy, and the role of the state.

I've been banging my head against the table since moving to Germany about the lack of convenience with cash payments and the need to constantly visit the ATM. Yet the economy is doing just fine.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: America is moving toward becoming a better version of itself

Its refreshing to read a hopeful and positive piece about the future of America. So much has been written of the state of the great divide between races, conservatives and liberals, heartland America and the coastal liberal cities, republican vs democrats. At least out of all this turmoil there is a sense of activism and involvement in politics I have not seen in years.

>“If you want to create a great community, you move someplace that needs your help,”

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: Renting is Throwing Money Away, Right? (2015)

I did buy a used car, just a more recent, nicer model. At the time, I thought I would hold on to this car for years, so I went for a step up in quality as well.

After working low level internships and restaurant jobs, its easy to get a little too ambitious at age 22 when you sign that first contract with an annual salary.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: Renting is Throwing Money Away, Right? (2015)

A 3 year term would not have been possible at my then current salary to finance the car. The standard term period (when I was buying) was 5-5.5 years.

In hindsight its easy to look back on what I could have done differently, but I guess that's point. When first graduating, I wouldn't recommend entering into even a medium term financial commitment as things can change so quickly within your first few years in the professional world.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: Renting is Throwing Money Away, Right? (2015)

True, but the average term of a lease is only 24-36 months while the length of term for financing a car is 60-84 months. (I had a 72 month plan). So you can get out of a lease much earlier, and if you do exit early, you typically only have to make the next 6 months of payments.

ShadowFaxSam | 7 years ago | on: Renting is Throwing Money Away, Right? (2015)

This same principal can be applied to buying or leasing a car. When I first graduated college and had my first "adult" job I wanted to purchase my first car. The general mantra I heard was "Leasing is throwing money away". I ended up financing my first car, (used) thinking I was making the correct financial decision.

The problem with someone fresh out of college buying or financing a car is they really have no idea what they're next 3-5 years have in store (change in cities, jobs, etc).

My friends who went the leasing option were making considerably lower monthly payments and were able to move on to another car at the end of the year with no difficulty, or could move to another city without carrying a multi-year financial obligation.

I ended up moving to Europe before I had even completely paid off the car and had to sell it at a loss.

I wish I could go back and simply lease a car for my first few years out of school before I figured out where my career would take me.

ShadowFaxSam | 8 years ago | on: Why All Programmers Should Get a Master's Degree

I'm not studying my Masters in Europe, and here the the norm is to enter a Masters Program directly after finishing your bachelors. I have already worked for a few years in America and while I'm still in my 20's, I am one of the oldest students in the class.

The biggest reason I could not enter into a graduate program straight out of university was the college debt I had already taken on for my bachelors. I worked for a couple years making student loan payments and then as I always planned, I began researching Masters Programs. After seeing the price tag, it was very hard to walk away from a comfortable salary.

To avoid this, perhaps it is best to go straight from Undergrad to grad before you start enjoying the the young professional lifestyle and work on paying off a larger debt upon graduation.

ShadowFaxSam | 8 years ago | on: Sydney’s plan to split into three cities in as little as 20 years

This site here backs up what you said, and as you mentioned its really not close. My personal experience was based on short term rentals (<1 year).

https://www.bedssi.com/rental-price-guide-for-australian-cit...

I did find that Sydney had more availability and options (at least during the market period I was searching). Lower Supply and High Demand should drive up Melbourne's price, but as you said, real estate in Sydneys CBD is just more valuable than Melbourne.

ShadowFaxSam | 8 years ago | on: Sydney’s plan to split into three cities in as little as 20 years

I keep hearing how Sydney has the most expensive housing.

In my experience, I found renting to be much more expensive in Melbourne compared to Sydney.

This may be driven by affluent areas such as Rose and Watsons Bay.

So while these new measures could potentially lower pricing in the housing market for buyers, I could see this having negative affects for the renting community.

ShadowFaxSam | 8 years ago | on: Scaling the Largest Dockless Bikesharing Platform

To combat this problem DC puts out portable docks when higher traffic is expected. If there is an event or concert in a park, they can drive a van over and add more docks for that day.

On a daily basis I think they do a pretty good job determining which networks need a higher capacity ie which docks in high traffic areas have a larger number of spaces.

ShadowFaxSam | 8 years ago | on: Scaling the Largest Dockless Bikesharing Platform

I've lived in both cities and the abuse is the problem. Its a toss up as to which city was worse, DC or Sydney.

It might be a culture thing, but looking at the comments here it seems to occur in every city.

Not a specific city problem, a humanity problem.

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