In other news (apolitical thread)...

[847badgerfan]

I have a friend who is deathly afraid to fly.

[utee94]

I really dislike flying.  A couple of gin and tonics helps but I still don't ever enjoy it.

[Brutus Buckeye]

I really dislike flying.  A couple of gin and tonics helps but I still don't ever enjoy it.

You just need to watch a good plane movie. 

[Cincydawg]

I certainly don't enjoy flying commercially, I doubt many do.  The long flights are pretty brutal, and even a 4 hour flight in first class is not something to enjoy.

I was more nervous about flying before I got my own license mostly because it helped me appreciate how much training pilots go through.  Everything today is pretty automated anyway except landing and takeoff.  I also have a pretty fatalistic attitude about it.  We're going to fly a fair bit to travel, and if something happens, well, it'll be quick.

We were on a flight to Seattle a while back one a plane that had come in from Brazil and had the "Delta One" seats up front, i did have some fun playing around with all the gadgets.  Those would be nice for transAtlantic flights, but not when they charge $7,000 per.

[847badgerfan]

Sometimes I wish I still had this. Yes, that's me piloting.

[Cincydawg]

$100 burgers.

[Cincydawg]

[utee94]

[FearlessF]

Ok, friends. Would you rather
A) be given a million (M) dollars
B) flip a coin for a billion (B) dollars

[betarhoalphadelta]

Ok, friends. Would you rather
A) be given a million (M) dollars
B) flip a coin for a billion (B) dollars

I'm taking the coin flip. 

Reason: A million dollars would be a REALLY nice thing to make my life more comfortable--but it's not enough to allow me to retire from work, or meaningfully change my consumption habits, outside of maybe going on vacation a little more often. Probably the biggest thing is that it would make it easier to get into a house, by providing not only a sizable down payment, but by reducing the required loan value bringing the monthly mortgage payments in line with sanity, and give me a little cushion on top of that towards retirement. But fundamentally I'd still be going to work, and my wife probably would too. 

A billion is "never have to worry about money or work again, forever" money. 50% chance of that is enough to forego the guaranteed million. 

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That said, there's a number in option A, above $1M but not outlandish, that would make me take option A.

[847badgerfan]

At this point I'd go for the Million, so it could hang out with the other ones I have. That last Million is the only reason I'm still working.

[jgvol]

Ok, friends. Would you rather
A) be given a million (M) dollars
B) flip a coin for a billion (B) dollars

I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth --- give me the milly.

While I may not be able to retire today -- it would buy me 5-10 years that I don't have now.  And I'm 50.

[Cincydawg]

At this point in my life, a million wouldn't change that much.  A billion would enable me to make a difference, I think, in a few areas by donating most of it.

I'd bet it would turn into a bit of a headache if I started donating larger sums.

[FearlessF]

At this point in my life, a million wouldn't change that much.  A billion would enable me to make a difference, I think, in a few areas by donating most of it.

I'd bet it would turn into a bit of a headache if I started donating larger sums.

I'm a bit similar
I'd hire someone to handle donations - probably my daughter