Non Forbes

Solve the Proposition 13 problem by paying off the difference when you sell

Submitted by brad on Thu, 2018-05-17 11:03

Even if you are not in California, you may have heard of Proposition 13 the ballot measure which changed property tax rules.

It was part of a tax revolt, and it changed how the value of your real estate is calculated for property taxes. As California property started zooming up in price, there were people who owned homes but had minimal incomes. They were facing growing tax bills even though they had not realized the gains on their house. Some were being forced out of houses they had lived in for decades, the story went.

Topic: 
Politics

Safety Drivers for Robocars -- the issues and rationale

Submitted by brad on Wed, 2018-05-16 10:45

The wake of Tesla's incident has caused a lot more questions about the concept of testing prototype robocars on public roads supervised by "safety drivers." Is it putting the public at risk for corporate benefit? Are you a guinea pig in somebody's experiment against your will? Is it safe enough? Is there another way?

Topic: 
Robocars

How to fly to Europe Biz Class for $2800 this summer, and in the future

Submitted by brad on Mon, 2018-05-14 12:37

I'm off in June to do some speaking in Europe. I'm flying to Milan in business class from San Francisco for $2,800 on UA and Air Canada, which is about the lowest price I've ever seen for biz class to Europe in summer on the major airlines. The coach fare can be as low as $600 for those not able to splurge. Let me tell you how to use these fares, even if it's not Italy you wish to visit.

Topic: 
Air Travel
Tags: 
tourism

Second driver's revenge: Why does car rental pricing suck so much?

Submitted by brad on Fri, 2018-05-11 12:54

As a customer, the pricing plans of the car rental companies baffle me. I mean I understand about the goals for differential pricing -- finding ways to charge richer customers more money -- but still, I find it very frustrating, and I am curious why one of the majors doesn't have the courage to break out of the current pricing models and win over customers.

Topic: 
Air Travel
Brad's Rant
Tags: 
tourism

Flyover: Is the left's vocabulary meaner than the right's?

Submitted by brad on Thu, 2018-05-10 12:28

Like many, I have been highly interested in understanding the rift in US and global politics that has resulted in the rise of Trump, LePen, Ford and Brexit.

While I run mostly in left/urban/secular/keen circles, I try as often as possible to talk to people in other circles to understand their view. My own politics match neither side, which gives me some extra perspective. However, living in left circles, I have encountered more of their terms.

Topic: 
Politics

Waymo has a crash in Chandler, but is not at fault.

Submitted by brad on Fri, 2018-05-04 21:14

A crash today with a Waymo van is getting attention coming in the same area just a short time after the Uber fatality, but Waymo will not be assigned fault -- the driver of the car that hit the Waymo van veered out of his lane into oncoming traffic because of somebody else who was incurring on the intersection. Only minor injuries, but higher energy than prior crashes for Waymo.

Topic: 
Robocars

What if teams were forced to contribute robocar incident data?

Submitted by brad on Fri, 2018-05-04 12:58

At teams around the world attempt to build safe robocar systems, one key asset has stood out as a big differentiator -- experience. For a company to be willing to certify their vehicle as safe, it needs experience with all the strange circumstances that it might encounter driving the roads.

Topic: 
Robocars

Can we verify plea deals and make them better?

Submitted by brad on Mon, 2018-04-30 14:14

Various sources suggest that just 3-5% of inmates in prison are there because of a trial. The vast bulk of them got there due to a guilty plea, part of a plea agreement.

This seems shocking, but in fact it is to be expected. Trials are long and expensive and risky. The vast majority of commercial disputes are settled out of court.

Topic: 
Governance

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