Vietnam. 

Of the 20 countries I’ve visited, Vietnam was the one where my dollars went the furthest. The food is amazing (fresh fruit shakes can be had on every street corner for less than a dollar 🥥🍍🥝🍓🍌🍋🍊), the beaches are pristine and the countryside is greenest, lushest place I’ve ever laid my eyes on (that includes Ireland). 

Given the cost of living and exchange rate, I can conservatively estimate that one could live quite comfortably there even on a modest Social Security income of $1000/month. 

The biggest argument against the 2-3-2 format (which the naysayers repeat every time, like broken records) is that if you're the higher seed and you lose one of the first two games at home, the lower-seeded team then has a chance to sweep Games 3-5 in their building and the series is over.

Here's the problem with that argument: in the 30 years that the 2-3-2 format was used, that particular scenario happened only TWICE\ (2004 and 2012). In fact, it was actually more common for the higher seed*, after splitting the first two games at home, to sweep the middle three games on the road, and clinch the series. That scenario happened three times (in 1990, 1991 and 2001).

So you lose one of the first two games at home...BIG DEAL. You have three chances to win on your opponent's home ice/home court to bring the series back to your building. That doesn't change whether you're playing 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1.

Whenever you point out that the 2-3-2 format is used by MLB, the naysayers always respond with "Yeah but that's because they play every day in the MLB!". Well, in both the NBA and NHL playoffs, there is usually only one day off between games. With the 2-2-1-1-1 format you're forcing players to have to spend those entire days traveling and adjusting to jet lag.

Another criticism that I would often hear about the 2-3-2 format is that it supposedly makes series shorter and reduces the probability of Game Sevens, but there is NO EVIDENCE to support this. Since 2015, when the NBA reverted back to 2-2-1-1-1, there has only been one series that went to a Game 7 (2016 Cavs-Warriors).

That reminds me: the NHL did in fact use a 2-3-2 format once, but it was only for one playoffs (1994) and only for a select number of series during those playoffs. Of the series that used the 2-3-2 format, most went the distance to the full seven games.

(*- The Miami Heat swept their middle three home games during the NBA 2006 Finals, but that was after dropping the first two games on the road.)

The 2003-04 Pistons were the first team to win the middle three home games in a 2-3-2 formatted series. When you say "I want to say the 03-04 season was the first year of that scheduling format as well", this is probably what you're confusing it with.

It would be super annoying flying cross country 4 or 5 times in a Boston vs LA Finals for example.

It's more than just annoying, it's so nonsensical. Take the NHL. In the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, the Bruins played the Canucks. Vancouver is a 7-hour flight from Boston. The series went the distance to 7 games. The teams had only one day off between games the entire series. I mean, who wants to spend half of that day off sitting in an airplane?

Its so hard to win three in a row in the finals

How would it be any harder to win three straight at home than to win two at home and then one on the road?

They get three straight at home. How is it any different than being down 0-2 under a 2-2-1-1-1 format?

If it's good for MLB, then it's good for the NHL and NBA

I'm for it in all rounds too. I mean, does home ice/home court really matter that much anymore?

It was actually former Celtics coach/GM Red Auerbach who complained about the 2-2-1-1-1 format in 1984. That year, the Celtics played the Lakers and the series went the full seven games. There was only one day off between those final four games and it was just exhausting. So the NBA changed it beginning the following year.

Keep in mind that back at that time, pro sports teams still flew commercial. So cross-country travel was that much more uncomfortable.

I remember one of the most vocal critics of 2-3-2 format was (of all people) Michael Jordan. Jordan played in six NBA Finals between 1991 and 1998, and his Chicago Bulls were the higher seed for four of those. Jordan, of course, won all six of those series, one of which (1991 against the Lakers) ended in five games, and all the rest in six. In the 1991 series against the Lakers, the Bulls split the first two games at home but then won all three games in Los Angeles. During the 1993 Finals against Phoenix (which Chicago won in six games), the home team lost every game of the series except for Game 4, which was won by the Bulls. So clearly, 2-3-2 had no effect on Jordan or his ability to win championships.

So you’d prefer to enter your PIN so that thieves can steal that too? (which would be EASY for thieves to do at a gas pump). 

And your father smelled like elderberries 😂

I miss this format too, and I'd like to see it used in the NHL, as well. I'm convinced now, more than ever, that being the home team just doesn't matter much anymore in any sport except for football. It is certainly much less significant during the playoffs than it is during the regular season.

The 2-3-2 format represents a way to change that. What I like about this format is that it exerts a bit of psychological pressure on the home team to hold serve on their home court/home ice. This helps create momentum swings.

Probably the most common criticism of a 2-3-2 format (one that we all got tired of hearing) is that if you're the higher seed and you lose one of the first two games at home, the lower-seeded team then has a chance to sweep Games 3-5 in their building and the series is over. BUT, in the 30 years that the 2-3-2 format was used, that particular scenario happened only TWICE\* (2004 and 2012). In fact, it was actually more common for the higher seed, after splitting the first two games at home, to sweep the middle three games on the road, and clinch the series. That scenario happened three times (in 1990, 1991 and 2001).

So you lose one of the first two games at home...BIG DEAL. You have three chances to win on your opponent's home ice/home court to bring the series back to your building. That doesn't change whether you're playing 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1.

Whenever you point out that the 2-3-2 format is used by MLB, the naysayers always respond with "Yeah but that's because they play every day in the MLB!". Well, in both the NBA and NHL playoffs, there is usually only one day off between games, and with the 2-2-1-1-1 format you're forcing players to have to spend those entire days traveling and adjusting to jet lag.

Another criticism that I would often hear about the 2-3-2 format is that it supposedly makes series shorter and reduces the probability of Game Sevens, but there is NO EVIDENCE to support this. Since 2015, when the NBA reverted back to 2-2-1-1-1, there has only been one series that went to a Game 7 (2016 Cavs-Warriors).

That reminds me: the NHL did in fact use a 2-3-2 format once, but it was only for one playoffs (1994) and only for a select number of series during those playoffs. Of the series that used the 2-3-2 format, most went the distance to the full seven games.

(*- The Miami Heat swept their middle three home games during the NBA 2006 Finals, but that was after dropping the first two games on the road.)

I'm glad to hear there are inexpensive treatment options and I plan to avail of it. I have probably a couple of dozen very small, flat ones around my torso and I honestly don't mind the appearance, but there are two of them -- one on my chest and one on my scalp -- that are large and protruding. I'm afraid of a cut or puncture that might cause heavy bleeding.

So for me, it's more a safety issue than an aesthetic one.

is it the city or a HOA? Why can't anybody get this important detail nailed down?

u/Infamous_Drummer3935 so which is it? The city or a HOA?

Because if it's from a HOA then I have zero sympathy for this guy.

u/DeathMonkey I think people caught that but are skeptical that it is actually the city and not a HOA. The media are notorious for fudging details like this in order to boost ratings and maximize clicks.

The articles say it's the city, not an HOA.

Wow! You're kicking butt. Congratulations. : )

People always point to Abraham Lincoln as an example of this, but let's be fair - the guy had to manage the country through a destructive war which killed 600,000 people, AND he lost an 11 year-old son just one year into his term of office, which would cause virtually anybody to crumble. Then there was his Marfan Syndrome which probably accelerated his aging.

Having a bipolar wife who was hysterical and constantly nagging him probably didn't help his cause either. All I can say is, poor guy.

I just finished an unpaid internship this semester (I just finished a Paralegal certificate program). 

My feelings about the idea of an unpaid internship are very mixed. On the one hand, I do feel that I’ve gained an invaluable experience. On the other hand, there were times when I felt that they viewed me as a source of free labor. 

So, if you’re going to be an unpaid intern remember this: the primary beneficiary is supposed to be you, the intern. The host (they are not your employer, they are the “host”) derive a residual, incidental benefit to your being there and performing various tasks for them. But the tasks they assign you should be educational in nature. Don’t allow them to make you spend your days scanning, copying or answering phones. Don’t be afraid to decline any mundane work they try to give you which you don’t feel is worth your while - if you’re not being paid then there is nothing they can say to you. 

Doesn't anyone use luggage tags anymore?

What state are you in? Colorado? They say that it's a good state for paralegals and I'm curious why.

Food wise though gonna be honest for a big city it kinda disappoints

What are you jiving about son? Boston is one of the best food cities in America. Great Italian, great seafood, great sandwich shops. Compare that to Phoenix which is nothing but chain restaurants.

Boston is compact and walkable, but difficult to navigate because there is no grid system. Streets go in every which direction.

Keep in mind, GPS doesn't work well in the downtown areas of large cities, because tall buildings interfere with the satellite signals. We have that problem all the time here in Chicago and it drives me crazy. I would print out some paper maps and bring with you.

ALSO...the trains in Boston (collectively referred to as the "T") do not run 24 hours, unlike in NYC or Chicago. They stop around 1am. Plan accordingly so you don't have to spend your monthly rent on an Uber during Surge.