Newsboy

Comments:

• Marjorie, thank you for the thoughtful reflection of your lifelong friendship. Your segue into the joys of automats in New York triggered some fond memories of my "gap" year away from college that I spent living in New York City back in the mid-80s. The old Horn and Hardart automat near the corner of 6th Ave. and West 57th (which I'm told was the the largest automat in their chain) had been converted in the early 80's into an Art-Deco style delicatessen, with a max seating capacity of more than 500! In the "city that never sleeps" the New York Delicatessen was open 24x7. I waited tables on the graveyard shift from 9 pm - 6 am. As a server, I rubbed shoulders with many notable actors, athletes, musicians, and more than a few of the "working girls" from the local area (a number of those ladies were my best tippers). What an adventure for an 18 year old new to the big city! The restaurant was mammoth in size, with a 2nd floor balcony seating area that overlooked the 1st floor dining room. It required a full kitchen on each floor during the lunch rush to serve all their patrons. The interior designers retained many of the original automat fixtures as a tribute to this location's storied history. I do wish that I had taken a few photos from back then! Sadly, time marches on, and this West 57th location is now a glass and steel high rise tower. But it's fun to reminisce around those days in NYC and the "things that aren't there anymore".

  Post: My Inheritance

  Link to comment from September 26, 2024

• For me, the "Grand Canyon of PA", located on the Tioga-Potter county line is the prettiest little slice of heaven (with none of the crowds found at the "other" Grand Canyon). Serenity, nice people, small hamlets and some great fishing are to be had. Link (which includes a video of the canyon): https://www.visitpottertioga.com/activities/pennsylvania-grand-canyon

  Post: First Place by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from September 6, 2024

• Great post, Dan - in my profession, they refer to early morning coffee clubs as the daily gathering of the "Waffle House wise men"...

  Post: My Breakfast Club

  Link to comment from August 3, 2024

• Thank you, Jonathan - great hear that there will be someone quietly handling the prefect duties on Forum comments. I also appreciate the vote of confidence for future Forum contributions.

  Post: Raise Your Voice

  Link to comment from June 23, 2024

• As I quickly approach the 18th tee of my "life's work", I've recently toyed with the idea of submitting an occasional column to Jonathan for HD consideration (more likely something that I'd do in a year or so, when the day job ends). The "new" HD Forums structure will likely (by necessity) be the venue for future new contributors, like me. But it will only still be around if HD readers can get past the psychological stigma of thinking that "I'm not knowledgable enough / I am not an expert". It's only a hunch, but I suspect that this psychological barrier to entry is likely what made the prior HD iteration (Voices feature) so underutilized. I'm ok with being be a little vulnerable and certainly open to constructive feedback, but the current civil discourse found within within current HD reader comments must be one thing that cannot change if this new HD structure is to survive...and hopefully thrive! The historically friendly and polite exchange of ideas found in the reader comments has been what differentiates the HD brand from so many other financial blogs that have come and gone in the internet era. As a collective group, HD readers can generally "agree to disagree, without being disagreeable".

  Post: Raise Your Voice

  Link to comment from June 23, 2024

• Adam - your analogy of helping your clients to see bonds in their portfolio as a type of insurance was pure gold. So simple, yet the example resonated with this reader. Alternative "barbell" strategies using S&P and even when claiming SS benefits as a couple and/or annuitizing a portion of your retirement savings to allow for greater market risk elsewhere in a portfolio - these little nuggets were also quite helpful. A solid article (as is the norm). Thank you, sir!

  Post: Raising the Bar

  Link to comment from June 23, 2024

• Dick - your thoughtful and reflective comment to Jonathan in this sad moment reinforces the humility that helps make HD such a special place. Thank you for your willingness to be a bit vulnerable. We don't always agree on matters of finance or in style of communication, but you also have been a valued part of the tapestry of diverse opinions that makes HD such a special place. An Irish prayer is offered for you and Connie as you navigate together the uncertain road ahead.

  Post: The C Word

  Link to comment from June 15, 2024

• Well said, Nick - you captured the feelings of the "silent majority" of HD readers quite succinctly.

  Post: The C Word

  Link to comment from June 15, 2024

• At a loss for words in this moment, just profound shock and sadness as I try to process this horrible news. After losing 3 siblings in the past 3 years, your post has me feeling like a 4th family member is now on the ropes. I am so very sorry, Jonathan. More to offer later as I try and get my head wrapped around this...

  Post: The C Word

  Link to comment from June 15, 2024

• Nailed it, David! The checklist approach when dealing with financial uncertainty is great - but the designer of this job aid / checklist should have lots of experience with the topic, lest an important step (or two) be bypassed or overlooked in error. How many of us have purchased an item online that required assembly, only to discover that the enclosed directions had skipped a step or left out some important warning on what NOT to do? Collaborating with a small circle of experienced peers during the design phase of any checklist / job aid helps to mitigate the chance of a "stealth" step being overlooked. In matters involving finance, this type of collaboration is even more crucial. This "crowd-source" approach is where both Humble Dollar and the Bogleheads website can prove to be extremely helpful. Buying the S&P 500 has been compared with buying a kitchen table with 500 legs. A few dozen of the legs may well fail, but the table itself still remains intact.

  Post: Overcoming My Fears

  Link to comment from May 30, 2024