Unfortunately, they've moved to electronic instructions for many of their kids sets that also include electronics. You have to use the iPad/Android app to assemble. For example, the playable Super Mario kits.
Now, as far as I've seen, this is limited to kits that are designed to use their apps for play. Those apps are really cool though, so I am willing to look at it benevolently (all the more complicated steps give you an optional assembly video for that step which makes it nicer for smaller kids).
The app for the Duplo train is really surprising. It lets you mirror your custom track setup in the app and then play games with it while controlling the train.
From what I can tell, for those sets without physical instruction books, you can still get the traditional instructions in PDF form from the LEGO website or in the instructions app. That way you don’t have to use the interactive instructions in the LEGO Super Mario app.
Some other things to consider in favor of the traditional IRA:
- Assume you are in the 22% tax bracket (single filer, $42-89k income). If you contribute $6k to a traditional IRA, you avoid ~$1300 in federal income tax right now and can put those savings into some other non-tax-advantaged investment account. You have absolutely zero restrictions on withdrawals from that account and of course only pay capital gains taxes when you do withdraw.
- IRA contributions are limited to $6k per year and if you are eligible for a Roth IRA then let's be honest - you probably aren't going to be moving up that far in your tax bracket when you retire (sorry).
- (Long shot) If Congress ever changes the laws about IRA taxation, it will be paid at the point of withdrawal. With the traditional, you haven't yet paid anything and therefore can't be double taxed. Don't be so sure about a Roth.
- When you contribute to a Roth, you pay federal, state and local taxes on that money. There are 6 states that have no income tax so that may reduce the tax paid. On the other hand, when you contribute to a traditional you pay no tax now and instead pay at the time of withdrawal. But there are 9 states that do not tax withdrawals, and 27 more that limit taxes on withdrawals.
Anyway, I think the Roth is great, but it is definitely not the right choice for 99% of people :)
But seriously - the most important part is saving for retirement. You can't go wrong with either choice as long as you contribute. Please don't let bike shedding prevent you from contributing.
> I'd never hire a full time employee who can work remotely. I'd employ a contractor who has to itemize their invoice.
That's a knee-jerk reaction that you probably already know has some serious problems ;)
People who are working 40 hours a week have no capacity to take on some important task with no notice unless they go past 40 hours a week. Which generally doesn't cost any extra money.
Hiring a contractor to work 40 hours per week is going to get really expensive really fast when you need them to suddenly ramp up beyond 40 hours on no notice. If you can even get them to do it!
If you're any kind of normal modern business, this is going to eat all your cost savings and probably even cause you to unnecessarily miss a lot of deadlines.
People who are working 40 hours a week have no capacity to take on some important task with no notice unless they go past 40 hours a week. Which generally doesn't cost any extra money.
Which is the problem. What we need is overtime for all. Time and a half after 8 hours in a day. Time and a half after 40 hours in a week. Time and a half after 5 days in a week. Double time on Sunday. Minimum of 4 hours of pay per workday or if called in. Those factors multiply. That's not at all unusual in union shops.
I don't disagree with you at all. If you regularly exceed 40 hours with exempt employees (especially developers) the compensation structure will have to reflect that or you will have retention problems.
That cost is far more transparent when dealing with hourly contractors, and maybe the employer prefers this! But, you know, theory of the firm etc tells us that in the long run you are usually better off with exempt employees even if they are frequently working less than the 40 hours you expect from them.
There's only two ways. Apple Music (streaming) and iTunes Store.
iTunes Match lets you "upload" your library to Apple. It matches your library against Apple's catalog. If they have the song, you get a copy of their version of the song. If it doesn't have a match, they retain your uploaded file.
I have a lot of random local music that isn't on iTunes, and which you can't easily find anymore. For years, I was paranoid about losing my ripped copies of the files, but iTunes Match has preserved them for me, in the cloud, for years now.
Yes definitely. I've used this one [1] multiple times because it is a short distance from Chicago's central business district and they are responsive and highly competent for just a small amount of money. I think that when you look at public university systems in the USA, you'll see that they already have an internal need to offer test proctoring because they have students temporarily at one campus location but enrolled at a different one. Offering the service to the outside public is not much extra effort on their part.
Go through the hoops to put a preprint on Arxiv. Put in the effort to properly format the document, etc. They’ll probably want you to get an endorser before you can submit, but they also explain how to find people to endorse you.
Illinois budget problems are due primarily to pension promises made decades ago. The current state government is reasonably well run, for the most part.
If you look at the 2020 Census data, the Chicago metro area grew slightly while the rural areas and small towns lost population. The state saw a growth in high earners that pay lots of taxes, and a loss in lower income folks that pay relatively low taxes.
Since you mention politics: Illinois will send 1 fewer person to the US Congress next year. Currently, there are 13 Democrats and 5 Republicans from Illinois. After the elections next year, there are almost certainly going to be 14 Democrats and 3 Republicans. Knowing that might help understand some of the criticism…
Now, as far as I've seen, this is limited to kits that are designed to use their apps for play. Those apps are really cool though, so I am willing to look at it benevolently (all the more complicated steps give you an optional assembly video for that step which makes it nicer for smaller kids).
The app for the Duplo train is really surprising. It lets you mirror your custom track setup in the app and then play games with it while controlling the train.