Agreed - I wasn’t suggesting a change, which is why I... didn’t suggest a change. :) My explanation was overly simplistic, I acknowledge. There are lots of good reasons for loss carry forwards, and lots of room for abuse, but the good reasons outweigh the potential for abuse. So we’re probably stuck with e.g. the…

In my experience, the two major tools for tax reduction/avoidance for US taxpayers are:

Macintosh? Those are the mushiest of all...

All golden delicious trees are genetically identical to the original golden delicious tree: apples don’t grow true-to-seed, and therefore are propagated by cuttings. Thus there is no way to distinguish between “heirloom” or “non-heirloom” golden delicious apples - they are all literally the exact same genetic stock.

Of the 10 that he tried, sure those are good choices.

See my other response re: the 12.5% figure. It’s 12.5% in one case, 6.25% in the other (but again, not arguing against getting vaccinated).

Just to be clear (and I’m not trying to argue against getting the shot, and in fact have already been convinced to get it myself by this discussion) this is not correct. In the “get vaccinated” calculation I reduce this probability by the effectiveness factor (1-E), so my assumed probability of getting the flu with…

After reviewing this list, I see only two possibilities:

I should have included the fine print: “Only works with coworkers, not relatives.” My dad is the same way!

Well, actually...

Haha, very funny. See my reply to Beth.

See my reply to Beth, including all caveats. I didn’t factor in the price of the vaccine, just the time spent getting it.

Ok, here’s my model. I apologize in advance for the terrible formatting. And for avoidance of doubt, I’m not claiming to have written a peer-reviewed academic paper on the subject, I just made a toy model for my own personal use, and I probably should have just not commented in the first place! But I did, and you…

The flu vaccine is far too ineffective for actual herd immunity to result, but your point (and similar points from others) is well taken.

That’s... a very fair point, and well taken.

Good list of myths. However even acknowledging they’re myths I still think it’s not crazy for healthy adults who don’t work with children or in healthcare to skip the flu shot. That’s not to say it’s a bad idea to get the flu shot, but (IMO) it’s not clearly a good one if you make some reasonable assumptions about the…

“WTF am I even going to do with that?”

Here’s what I do:

The only person I apply the term to is Donald J. Trump.

That’s pretty good etiquette advice for ANY Chinese meal short of a banquet, actually... Nice.