First, why not just admit you want slaves to pick your cotton?

I had no idea that slaves were free to go at any time. And if your concern is abusive employers, then the solution to that is regulation and oversight.

Undocumented migrants to the US go through great risk to get employment opportunities that, while terrible from the perspective of US norms, are far more than they have available at home. That's why they come in the first place. What they DON'T want is, just to pick a random example, a masked gestapo kidnapping them in front of their children and throwing them into something its creators lovingly refer to as "Alligator Alcatraz". They came to work.

Second, they are a net drain on the economy because they send more money back home than they add to GDP.

Asserting things flatly in contradiction with the research does not make it true. Once again, to repeat: the economy is not a zero-sum game. Labour creates wealth; it does not redistribute from some fixed pool. Their labor creates wealth in the US, but they are given only a tiny fraction of that. And on that they pay taxes for services that they are barred from receiving. From the pittiance they have left, the majority furthermore gets spent within the US.

Total remittances from the US amount to $98B; this is a mixture of remittances from undocumented workers and documented. Documented immigrants are vastly more common than undocumented (14,1% of the US population vs. 3,2%) and tend to earn much higher salaries (though they remit a smaller % of them), so only a relatively small fraction of that (a few tens of billions) is from undocumented workers. In terms of the share of the workforce, 6,7% of the workforce is undocumented and 18,6% are all immigrants combined. Keep these numbers in mind when you look at the next number: the US economy is 30 TRILLION dollars. E.g. the value that undocumented workers remit is in the ballpark one-thousandth of the economy, yet they're 1 in 15 workers. The value that all immigrant workers remit is in the ballpark of 1/300th of the economy, and they're one in five workers. And remember that it is work that creates wealth.

There simply is no comparison: the amount that undocumented workers contribute to the economy is vastly, by orders of magnitude, more than they earn, let alone remit.

Third, the correct and legal term is "illegal alien". "Undocumented migrant" is a BS euphemism invented by left-wing reporters to support a political agenda.

"Undocumented migrant" is not modern, did not originate in the US, and has its roots in academic and international discourse. It is the preferable language of the UN since 1975, aka half a century. Alien" is a perfectly valid legal term, although "illegal alien" is rarely used in the US code (the US has a wide range of alien categories referenced in the code, including "resident and nonresident", "immigrant and nonimmigrant", "asylee and refugee", etc aliens). "Unauthorized alien" is probably the most common adjective phrase, although just "alien" is more common still (for example: 18 U.S.C. 1325, "Unauthorized Entry by Alien"). "Migrant" and "alien" are not synonyms, and require unique terminology - migrant is much more specific, and "migrant worker" more specific still. "Illegal" is malformed terminology and commonly inaccurate. For example, a large fraction of people who are in the US without authorization did not enter the country illegally, but rather overstayed visas. It is also illogical to refer to a person as illegal, rather than an act.

(This is also a good time to drop a reminder that being in the US without authorization is generally a civil, not criminal, violation)

Also, just to be clear, if you wrote your post coming from a personal perspective:

Don't define yourself relative to others. If you do, you will never be happy, in a relationship or out of one. I mean, sure, you may get the initial "sugar rush" from a new relationship, but you will be doomed to destroying it due to overdependency on the other person for your happiness and self-esteem, which is something that cannot be sustained. You need to be able to find happiness and respect for yourself on your own.

But if that's not about you, then just let this stand as an aside to anyone who needs to hear it.

Nobody means "single men" when they talk about incels. Incels - to both the general public, and to self-identified incels, refers to "...member[s] of an online subculture of mostly male and heterosexual[2] people who define themselves as unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one [who] often blame, objectify, and denigrate women and girls as a result."

To be clear, the movement did start as a website and mailing list that was basically just for people who were chronically single, but with no connotations beyond that (it was actually a woman who started it). But it morphed beyond all recognition from its founding. To quote Alana (who started the original): "It definitely wasn't a bunch of guys blaming women for their problems. That's a pretty sad version of this phenomenon that's happening today. Things have changed in the last 20 years" and "Like a scientist who invented something that ended up being a weapon of war, I can't uninvent this word, nor restrict it to the nicer people who need it".

If they would have wanted to participate as members of the society, they would have come here legally.

Oh wow, why didn't they think of that! Just "come here legally" - it's so simple! Please share with everyone your brilliant plan that nobody thought of! *eyeroll*

And FYI, "being in the US illegally" is only a civil offense. And your entire economy is built around the existence of these people, who subsidize your government paying taxes on services they're legally barred from collecting, and creating vastly more wealth than they're paid (which then goes back into your economy, because economies are not zero-sum games). They're also disinflationary, lowering the costs of goods and services. And tend to work in fields that have chronic massive labour shortages (ag, food processing, construction, etc - there's generally a huge labour deficit there).

If you want to know what happens if you slash production but don't slash consumption, simply look at what happened to inflation the world over in the years following the COVID pandemic.

the (up to) 3 million a year let in by Mr Biden's open-Democrat-voter, er, -border policy,

That conspiracy theory is (A) illegal, and (B) logistically unfounded.

Illegal immigrants cannot vote. In case that's unclear, perhaps all caps will help: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CANNOT VOTE. Only citizens can vote. The punishment for illegally registering or voting is not a slap on the wrist. It includes fines, imprisonment, and, crucially for an immigrant, deportation and being permanently barred from ever gaining legal citizenship. The risk is immense for the "reward" of casting a single, statistically insignificant ballot - not least of which because the vast majority of the immigrant population doesn't live in swing states to begin with.

To register to vote, you must attest under penalty of perjury (felony) that you are a U.S. citizen. Most states require some form of documentation like a driver's license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number to register, which non-citizens and undocumented immigrants do not have.

There has been study after study after study on the notion of widespread illegal voting, and every single time, it's found to be mythical. Even the goddamn Heritage Foundation's own database (which they collect to argue for stricter voting laws) shows that it's a myth. They track every case of voter fraud in every election, and all years together from all sources of voter fraud (not simply "noncitizen votes"), there's only about 1100 cases during a timeperiod were 3 billion votes were cast, and that's overplaying it (it's not ~1100 cases of ineligible people, but includes everything from vote buying to interfering to intimidation to improper voting assistance). The Heritage Foundation itself has only 41 cases of noncitizens casting votes. A voter is more likely to be struck by lightning than to cast a fraudulent vote.

And to reiterate, this isn't some grand conspiracy, it's because it's the worst tradeoff imaginable. The benefits for casting a fraudulent ballot are tiny. You have almost zero chance of swinging the election even in a swing state, let alone a red or blue state. If you even care about the election at all. The penalties, by contrast, are extremely high, especially for a noncitizen. And it's easy to get caught (registration requires verifiable personal information that is easy to crosscheck, and indeed is *designed* for crosschecking - see ERIC for example - then onsite against poll books - plus there's a ton of other things like the "jury duty trap" (jury duty is drawn from the poll lists but then leads to cross-referencing the individual)). It's like trying to hold up a bank to get a single lotto ticket from the vault; it's just a nonsensical risk-reward tradeoff. And on top of it all, the notion that it's party based... you realize that Trump had 42% support among Latinos, right? Latino voters are on average conservative and religious compared to the US average, and have been increasingly swinging toward Republicans. If Democrats wanted any block to come to the US, it wouldn't be conservative hispanic catholic men, it'd be college-educated black atheist women (cue the "This Is The Future That Liberals Want" memes).

Lastly, the "three million per year" number is itself mythical. There's 2-3 million "border encounters" per year. This is a very different number from people who are "let in" (except, of course, nobody is being "let in", they're sneaking past border security). "Border encounters" includes people who are caught trying to enter and immediately returned (e.g. never get in - the vast majority), individuals who attempt to cross multiple times (one "encounter" per attempt), individuals who are legally allowed to enter to claim asylum, etc.

Meanwhile in reality, undocumented immigrants in the US paid an estimated $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes - over a third of that to programs including Social Security and Medicare that they are barred from using. They are subsidizing you. They aren't "eating the food in your fridge and pocketing your paycheck", they're being forced to put food in your fridge and subsidize your paycheck. You live off the sweat of THEIR brows.

As for pushing down wages, studies consistently find that's bullshit - immigration raises wages for locals:

1) First off, low-wage work faces chronic labor shortages, and labour shortages undercut the economy. For example, the construction industry in the US alone is forecast to have a half-million person labour shortage this year. That sort of thing is devastating in terms of lost potential economic growth - the absolute worst thing you can do is deliberately make that shortage worse.

2) Secondly, economies are not zero-sum games. Work creates wealth. Which then gets spent and taxed, and that creates new value; jobs don't get "consumed", they just create more. Depending on your economy, lowering the cost of production does one of two (functionally) equivalent things as a net whole: either they lower the cost of goods and services (e.g. meaning your existing wages buy more), OR the cost of goods and services remain the same but wages rise. Or to put it another way: if you grow the economy in a manner that the lower-wage jobs are being filled, then that economic growth involves shifting everyone else on net average into higher-wage positions.

Furthermore: immigrants have higher rates of entrepreneurship than the native-born. Less than 1 in 8 native-born people will start a business, but 1 in 4 immigrants will. This sort of "economic melting pot" environment has fueled America for its entire history. Immigrant-started businesses have similar rates of success as native-started businesses, but are less likely to imitate and focus more on R&D.

Yes, many employers of undocumented workers are exploitative, but they're exploitative of them. The proper response is to create a regularized legal framework for immigrant labour. The reality is that the US absolutely relies on said labour for its economy and quality of life, while at the same time providing no legal framework for said labour to arrive and exist in the country. It's a legal absurdity.

You have to understand how your economy works. Your economic success has overwhelmingly been built on two things:

1) "Brain-draining" other countries (H1B, attracting foreign college students who end up staying with their advanced degrees, etc); and
2) Low-cost labour, to keep the cost of production down.

What you want to do is kill off your entire economic success model. It's utterly insane self-foot-shooting on your part. These things flood money into your economy and into your government coffers. And you want to turn off the spigot. You have every right to be mad about the low end of this being structured around an undocumented economy, but the way to fix that is to make it into a documented economy. You accurately identify a problem, but have an entirely backwards "solution" to it.

Tesla has had its own custom-designed AI chips running in cars since HW3 in 2019, replacing an earlier setup based on NVidia GPUs in order to get better performance at a lower unit cost and lower power consumption, with onboard redundancy, by optimizing the hardware to their tasks. They don't build the chips - they don't have a fab - they just design them.

Since 2021 (officially) they've also been working on the much more architecturally ambitious Dojo training supercomputer project, but I'm not sure if this contract has anything to do with it.

Or to rephrase: Fuck cancer.

A random one from me (since one thing I commonly use them for is search, e.g. "Find the lowest price on a belimo lr230a rotary actuator" or whatnot). Not knowing what type of cancer you have, I asked a model to come up with a random type of terminal cancer and a random place in the US. It gave: Stage IV Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer) with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, and Boise, Idaho. So:

Prompt: "I have metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis. I live in Boise, Idaho. Conduct a search for clinical trials, whether for the cancer treatment or for pain management to help better deal with it. I am willing to travel."

Treatment-Focused Clinical Trials

The landscape of cholangiocarcinoma treatment is evolving, with many clinical trials focused on targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and novel chemotherapy combinations.

Targeted Therapies: A significant area of research involves therapies that target specific genetic mutations found in some cholangiocarcinomas.[1][2] Molecular profiling of your tumor is often required to determine if you are a candidate for these trials.[1] Key targets include:

FGFR2 Fusions or Rearrangements: Several trials are evaluating drugs that target the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2).[2][3][4] Drugs like pemigatinib, infigratinib, and futibatinib have shown promise and are being studied in various trial phases.[2]

IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations: Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 genes are another focus of targeted therapy research.[2]

BRAF V600E Mutations: Trials are investigating the effectiveness of BRAF inhibitors, sometimes in combination with other drugs.[2]

HER2 Amplification: Some studies are exploring therapies for cholangiocarcinomas that overexpress the HER2 protein.[5]

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer, is another active area of investigation.[6] Trials are exploring the use of checkpoint inhibitors, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted agents.[7][8]

Chemotherapy: Researchers are continuously working to improve chemotherapy regimens.[6] Clinical trials may involve new chemotherapy drugs, novel combinations of existing drugs, or different methods of delivery.[6] One specific trial for patients with peritoneal metastases from biliary tract cancer is investigating the use of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized nab-paclitaxel in combination with standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin).[9]

Actively Recruiting Trials: For the most current information on actively recruiting clinical trials, you and your doctor can search the official registry at ClinicalTrials.gov. The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation also provides a curated list of trials on its website.[10] Some ongoing trials for advanced cholangiocarcinoma include studies on:

Durvalumab and tremelimumab with chemotherapy.[7]
Pembrolizumab and olaparib.[7]
Various FGFR inhibitors.[7][11]
Combination therapies for specific genetic mutations.[7][12]

Pain Management Clinical Trials

Peritoneal carcinomatosis can often lead to significant pain. While many of the treatment-focused trials aim to alleviate pain by controlling the cancer, some studies specifically address pain management.

One notable approach being investigated is the use of virtual reality (VR) for gastrointestinal cancer pain. A trial at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is exploring how VR can help improve patient-reported outcomes for severe abdominal pain.[8]

Leading Cancer Centers

Your willingness to travel opens up the possibility of seeking treatment at nationally recognized cancer centers with expertise in cholangiocarcinoma and peritoneal carcinomatosis. These centers often have a wide range of clinical trials available.[10] Some of the top institutions include:

Mayo Clinic: With locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, the Mayo Clinic is a major referral center for cholangiocarcinoma and has pioneered liver transplantation for this disease.[12][13]

Moffitt Cancer Center: Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt has a robust clinical trials program for cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on new therapies like anti-angiogenesis, EGFR inhibitors, and immunotherapy.[6][14]

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University: Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Winship is a top-performing research institute for cholangiocarcinoma with a high volume of clinical trials.[15]

City of Hope: With locations in California, Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois, City of Hope has a specialized program for bile duct cancer and an extensive clinical trials program.[16]

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK): Located in New York City, MSK has a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in treating bile duct cancer.[17]

University of California Health System: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have active clinical trial programs for cholangiocarcinoma.[3][4]

To find and inquire about specific trials, you can use the clinical trial identifiers (NCT numbers) found in the search results and on ClinicalTrials.gov to get more detailed information, including locations and contact information.[7][11] It is recommended to work closely with your healthcare provider to navigate these options and find the best fit for your circumstances.

--

I can't be bothered to transcribe all those links, since that's presumably not your cancer, but here's a random one, here's another random one (search for "Identifier"), here's another random one, etc.

(BTW, when I tasked it to sum up example prompts of things that might be of benefit to you using a couple pages of copy-pasted Slashdot history, I had no idea about your situation. Sorry to hear that, man, that sucks :( )

Prompt: "I am concerned about my wife's parenting style and fear she will not raise our son to be a resilient and responsible adult. What are some constructive ways I can communicate my concerns to her without causing conflict? Provide strategies for how we can create a unified parenting plan for the time I have left, and suggest resources that could help her develop her parenting skills."

Communicating Concerns Without Sparking Conflict

Effectively communicating your concerns is the first step toward a resolution. The goal is to foster a dialogue, not a confrontation.

Strategies for Constructive Communication:

Choose the Right Time and Place: Initiate conversations when you are both calm and have ample time to talk without interruptions.[1][2] Avoid bringing up sensitive topics when your child is present or during stressful moments.[2]

Use "I" Statements: Frame your concerns from your perspective to avoid sounding accusatory.[3][4] For example, instead of saying, "You're not strict enough," you could try, "I feel concerned that our son may not be learning responsibility, and I would like to discuss how we can work on this together."[2]

Practice Active Listening: Pay close attention to your wife's perspective without immediately formulating a rebuttal.[1] Acknowledge her feelings and try to understand her point of view.[5] You could say something like, "It sounds like you feel that being nurturing is the most important thing right now."

Be Curious, Not Critical: Approach the conversation with a genuine desire to understand her reasoning.[6] Her parenting style may have merits you haven't considered.[6]

Focus on Shared Goals: Frame the conversation around your shared desire for your son's well-being.[7] You could start by saying, "I know we both want what's best for our son, and I'd love to talk about how we can be a team in raising him to be a wonderful adult."

Avoid Blame and Accusations: Placing blame will likely lead to defensiveness and shut down the conversation.[7] The focus should be on finding solutions together.

Creating a Unified Parenting Plan

A unified parenting plan can provide consistency for your son and reduce conflict between you and your wife.

Steps to Create a Unified Plan:

Establish a United Front: It's important for children to see their parents as a cohesive team.[8] Even if you disagree on an approach, try to support each other's decisions in the moment and discuss any differences privately later.[8]

Define Your Family Rules: Collaboratively create a set of household rules that you both agree on. This includes rules for your son's behavior and the consequences for breaking them.[8]

Develop a Detailed Agreement: A parenting plan should be detailed to minimize future misunderstandings.[9] It can include:
Schedules: Outline routines for daily activities, holidays, and vacations.[10]

Decision-Making: Specify how you will make major decisions regarding your son's education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities.[11]
Discipline: Agree on consistent methods of discipline that you can both adhere to.[5]

Be Flexible and Willing to Compromise: A parenting plan is a living document that may need to be adjusted as your son grows and circumstances change.[12]
Consider Professional Help: If you struggle to create a plan on your own, a family therapist or mediator can provide guidance and help facilitate productive conversations.[11][13]

Resources for Developing Parenting Skills

There are many resources available to help your wife, and you, develop parenting skills and build confidence.

Online Resources:

Infoaboutkids.org: A website from the American Psychological Association (APA) that provides science-based information on child and adolescent development.[14]

Child Mind Institute: Offers expert articles and guides on various parenting topics and child development.[15]

PBS KIDS for Parents: Provides tips, activities, and resources to help raise kind, curious, and resilient children.[16]

Raising Children Network: An Australian website with a wealth of information on all aspects of parenting.[2]

Parenting Programs and Courses:

ACT Raising Safe Kids Program: An APA-developed program that teaches positive parenting skills.[14]

Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing: A free online course from the Yale Parenting Center that provides videos on parenting techniques.[14]

Triple P – Positive Parenting Program: Offers evidence-based courses and support for parents.[17]

Support Groups and Counseling:

Parent Support Groups: Connecting with other parents can provide a sense of community and a space to share experiences.[18]

Couples Counseling: A therapist can help you and your wife navigate your parenting differences and improve your communication.[8]

By approaching this situation with empathy, open communication, and a willingness to work together, you can create a positive and unified parenting approach that will benefit your entire family.

Sources:
hutsonlaw.org
raisingchildren.net.au
recoupling-app.com
attorneystevelopez.com
click2pro.com
youtube.com
happinessishereblog.com
goodtherapy.org
familylawma.com
traviswalkerlaw.com
merelfamilylaw.com
denverdivorceattorneys.com
themarkslawfirm.com
apa.org
childmind.org
pbs.org
safeaustin.org
kutestkids.com

Prompt: "I am about to transition to Social Security Disability (SSDI) and a private long-term disability policy. My income will be reduced by 20%. My wife is 48 and still working. Please analyze my situation and provide a detailed breakdown of how to maximize my disability benefits and what my wife's options will be for survivor benefits. What are the tax implications of this change in income for our household?"

Maximizing Your Disability Income: A Step-by-Step Approach

It is crucial to understand that your private LTD policy and SSDI benefits will likely be coordinated. Most LTD policies include an "offset" provision, meaning they will reduce your LTD payments by the amount you receive from SSDI.[1][2] However, you will not lose income; the total amount will simply come from two different sources.[3] Here's how to navigate this process to your advantage:

Review Your Long-Term Disability Policy Immediately: Obtain a copy of your full LTD policy documents. Look for the section on "offsets," "coordination of benefits," or "other income." This will detail how your SSDI benefits will affect your LTD payments. Understanding these terms is the first step in managing your income stream.[3]

Apply for SSDI as Soon as Possible: Many LTD policies mandate that you apply for SSDI.[1][2] Even if it's not required, it's generally in your best interest to do so. Your LTD provider may even offer assistance with the application process, as your approval for SSDI is to their financial benefit.[1]

Understand the "Offset" Calculation: Your LTD benefit will likely be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis by your SSDI payment. For example, if your LTD benefit is $3,000 per month and you are approved for $1,500 per month from SSDI, your LTD payment will likely be reduced to $1,500. Your total monthly income from these sources will remain $3,000.[1] Some policies may have different offset rules, so it is vital to check your specific policy.[4]

Consider Dependent Benefits: If you have children under the age of 18 (or up to 19 if they are a full-time student in elementary or secondary school), they may be eligible to receive a monthly benefit of up to 50% of your disability rate.[5] This can significantly increase your household's total income.

Account for Retroactive Payments: If you receive a lump-sum retroactive payment from SSDI for a period when you were also receiving LTD benefits, you will likely need to repay your LTD provider for the overpayment.[3] It is essential to be prepared for this to avoid any suspension of your LTD benefits.

Your Wife's Survivor Benefits: Planning for the Future

Should you pass away while receiving SSDI, your wife, who is currently 48 and working, will have options for survivor benefits. Here's a breakdown of her potential eligibility and strategies:

Eligibility for Survivor Benefits: A surviving spouse can typically begin receiving survivor benefits as early as age 60 (or age 50 if she is disabled).[6] The amount she receives is based on your earnings record and her age when she claims the benefits.[6][7]

Benefit Amount: If she waits until her full retirement age for survivors, she will generally receive 100% of your basic SSDI benefit amount.[8] If she claims benefits between age 60 and her full retirement age, she will receive a reduced amount, ranging from 71.5% to 99% of your benefit.[6][8]

Coordinating with Her Own Retirement Benefits: A key strategy for your wife will be to coordinate her survivor benefits with her own Social Security retirement benefits.[9] She cannot receive both her own retirement benefit and a survivor benefit at the same time; she will receive the higher of the two.[10]

Strategic Claiming: A potential strategy for your wife is to claim her survivor benefit first, which she can do as early as age 60. This would allow her own retirement benefit to continue to grow. Then, at a later date (up to age 70), she could switch to her own retirement benefit if it is higher. This can help maximize her lifetime Social Security income.[6]

Impact of Her Work: Your wife's continued work and earnings will not affect her eligibility for survivor benefits, as SSDI is not a needs-based program.[11][12] However, if she is receiving survivor benefits and is under her full retirement age, her earnings could temporarily reduce her benefit amount if they exceed certain annual limits. Once she reaches full retirement age, these earnings limits no longer apply.[13]

Tax Implications for Your Household

The transition to disability income will have significant tax consequences for your household. Here's what you need to know:

Taxability of Private Long-Term Disability: The taxability of your LTD benefits depends on who paid the premiums. If your employer paid the premiums with pre-tax dollars, the benefits are generally fully taxable.[6][10] If you paid the premiums with after-tax dollars, the benefits are typically tax-free.[6][10] If there was a shared cost, a portion of the benefits may be taxable.[6][10] You should receive a Form W-2 or Form 1099 from the insurance company if your benefits are taxable.[6]
Taxability of Social Security Disability (SSDI): A portion of your SSDI benefits may be taxable, depending on your "combined income." Your combined income is your adjusted gross income (AGI), plus non-taxable interest, plus half of your Social Security benefits.[7]

Joint Filing and Combined Income: Since you are married and filing jointly, your wife's income will be included in the calculation. If your combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your SSDI benefits. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable.[7]

Withholding Taxes: You can request to have federal income taxes withheld from your SSDI benefits by filing Form W-4V with the Social Security Administration. For private disability benefits, you can file Form W-4S with the insurance company.[7] This can help you avoid a large tax bill at the end of the year.

Professional Advice is Key

Given the complexity of your situation, it is highly recommended that you seek personalized advice from qualified professionals:
Financial Advisor: A financial advisor with experience in disability planning can help you create a new budget to account for the 20% income reduction, review your investment strategy, and help you and your wife plan for retirement with these new income sources.[14][15] They can also help you understand the long-term implications of your choices.

Tax Professional: A qualified tax professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is essential to help you navigate the tax implications of your new income streams. They can help you estimate your tax liability, determine if you should have taxes withheld, and ensure you are filing your tax returns correctly.[15]

Disability Attorney: If you encounter any issues with your SSDI or LTD claims, a disability attorney can provide invaluable assistance.[16]
By taking a proactive and informed approach, you and your wife can navigate this transition and secure your financial well-being for the future.

Sources:
financialsamurai.com
evansdisability.com
disabilityservicesofamerica.com
investopedia.com
fbrlaw.com
investopedia.com
sslg.com
ssa.gov
troweprice.com
aarp.org
bruceweider.com
jandils.com
disabilitysecrets.com
merceradvisors.com
illinoislifespan.org
numberanalytics.com

"I simply have no use for it."

Prompt: "Analyze the posts from registrations_suck for anything an AI might be useful for him for - e.g. What things does he need assistance with? What things does he wish he had more information on? What things is he clearly missing information on? What mistakes has he made? On and on. Just think about what's he's written, and come up with a fair number of prompts that could be given to a powerful AI with RAG and good analysis capabilities to help him out."

  [I paste in several pages of your comment history, then paste in each resulting prompt]. Model is Gemini Pro with search grounding enabled. Each response takes just seconds (I spend a lot more time copying them into Slashdot and formatting them than the model takes)

Handpicking a few random ones (not knowing what you *actually* need answers for):

Prompt: "I am a 54-year-old with terminal cancer and a net worth of approximately $1.7 million. I have a 9-year-old son and a wife who I believe lacks financial discipline. I need to set up a trust for my son to ensure he is taken care of and his inheritance is protected. Explain the different types of trusts available in Pennsylvania, including the benefits of a spendthrift trust, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to establish one. What are the key considerations when selecting a trustee who is not my wife?"

Understanding Your Options: Types of Trusts in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you have several types of trusts to consider, each with distinct features and benefits. Here are some of the most relevant options for your situation:

Testamentary Trust: This trust is created within your will and only comes into effect after your death. While it can provide for your son, it will have to go through the probate process, which can be time-consuming and public.

Living Trust (Inter Vivos Trust): This trust is established during your lifetime. A key advantage of a living trust is that it avoids probate, ensuring a more private and typically faster transfer of assets to your beneficiaries. Living trusts can be either revocable or irrevocable.

Revocable Living Trust: You maintain control over the assets and can modify or revoke the trust at any time during your life. This offers flexibility as your circumstances change.

Irrevocable Living Trust: Once created, this trust generally cannot be altered or revoked. This provides greater asset protection from creditors and can have significant tax advantages. Given your concerns about protecting the inheritance, an irrevocable trust is a strong option to consider.

Trust for Minors: Pennsylvania law provides for specific trusts to manage assets for a minor until they reach a designated age. This prevents a young person from receiving a large inheritance before they are mature enough to handle it. A common approach is to structure the trust to distribute funds at various ages, for instance, one-third at 25, one-third at 30, and the remainder at 35.

The Power of a Spendthrift Trust: Protecting Your Son's Inheritance

Given your concern about your wife's financial discipline and the desire to protect your son's inheritance from potential mismanagement or future creditors, a spendthrift trust is a particularly powerful tool.

A spendthrift trust is specifically designed to protect a beneficiary from their own imprudence and from the claims of their creditors. Here are the key benefits:

Protection from Creditors: Assets held within a properly structured spendthrift trust are generally shielded from the beneficiary's creditors, lawsuits, and bankruptcy proceedings.

Controlled Distributions: You, as the creator of the trust (the grantor), can dictate the terms of distribution. The trustee you appoint will manage the assets and distribute them to your son according to your specific instructions. This can be in the form of regular payments for living expenses and education, or discretionary payments for specific needs.

Preservation of Assets: By preventing your son from accessing a large lump sum, a spendthrift trust helps ensure that the inheritance will last and be used for his long-term benefit, rather than being quickly depleted.

Peace of Mind: Knowing that your son's financial future is secure and managed by a responsible party can provide immense peace of mind during a difficult time.

Establishing a Trust in Pennsylvania: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a trust involves a series of important legal steps. While it's highly recommended to work with an experienced estate planning attorney, here is an overview of the process:

Choose the Right Type of Trust: Based on your goals, you and your attorney will determine the most suitable type of trust. An irrevocable spendthrift trust appears to be the most fitting choice for your circumstances.

Select a Trustee: This is a critical decision, especially since you are not selecting your wife. The trustee will be responsible for managing the trust assets and making distributions to your son according to your wishes.

Identify the Beneficiary: In this case, your 9-year-old son will be the primary beneficiary.

Draft the Trust Document: Your attorney will create a comprehensive legal document that outlines the terms of the trust. This will include the trustee's powers, the distribution schedule for your son, and any specific instructions you want to provide.

Fund the Trust: You will need to transfer your assets, such as bank accounts, real estate, and investments, into the name of the trust. A trust only controls the assets that are legally titled in its name.

Selecting a Trustee: Key Considerations for Protecting Your Son's Future

Choosing a trustee is one of the most important decisions you will make in this process. Since you are not appointing your wife, you must select an individual or institution that is trustworthy, capable, and will act in your son's best interest. Here are the key considerations:

Individual Trustee vs. Corporate Trustee:

Individual Trustee (e.g., a trusted friend, family member, or professional advisor):

Pros: May have a personal understanding of your family dynamics and your son's needs. They may also charge lower fees than a corporate trustee.
Cons: May lack the financial or legal expertise to manage a significant trust. There is also the potential for conflicts of interest or emotional decision-making. The individual you choose must be organized, responsible, and have the time to dedicate to the role.

Corporate Trustee (e.g., a bank or trust company):

Pros: Offer professional asset management, legal and tax expertise, and impartiality. They are regulated and have systems in place for record-keeping and reporting. This can be a good option for a large and complex trust that will last for many years.
Cons: They charge fees for their services, which are typically a percentage of the assets under management. Some people may find them to be less personal than an individual trustee.

Essential Qualities in a Trustee:

Trustworthiness and Integrity: The trustee will have significant control over your son's financial well-being. Choose someone with a strong moral compass and a history of ethical behavior.

Financial Acumen: The trustee should have the experience or willingness to learn how to prudently manage investments according to Pennsylvania's "prudent investor" rule, which requires a trustee to invest and manage trust assets as a careful and sensible person would.[1]

Impartiality and Sound Judgment: A trustee must act impartially, balancing the present needs of your son with the need to preserve the trust funds for his future.[2] They should be capable of making difficult decisions, such as denying an unreasonable request from your son or navigating complex family dynamics without bias.[3] Try to appoint someone who is unlikely to have a conflict of interest with your son.[4]

Willingness and Availability: Being a trustee is a time-consuming and long-term commitment.[5] Before appointing someone, have an open conversation to ensure they are willing and able to take on the significant responsibilities for what could be decades.[4] Consider the age and health of a potential individual trustee; you want to choose someone likely to be able to manage the trust for its entire duration.[6]

Understanding of Fiduciary Duty: A trustee has a legal (fiduciary) duty to act solely in the best interest of the beneficiary.[7] This is the highest standard of care under the law.[7] In Pennsylvania, this includes duties of loyalty, prudent administration, and providing regular information and reports to the beneficiary.[8][9]

A Hybrid Approach: Co-Trustees

You do not have to choose between an individual and a corporate trustee. A common and effective strategy is to appoint co-trustees.[10] For instance, you could appoint a trusted family friend who knows your son and your values to act alongside a corporate trustee.[3] This "team" approach combines the personal touch and understanding of an individual with the professional management, investment expertise, and longevity of a financial institution.[3][10]

The Most Important Step: Seek Professional Legal Counsel

The information provided here is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Given the complexities of trust law and the significance of your situation, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced estate planning attorney in Pennsylvania. A qualified attorney can:

Provide personalized advice tailored to your specific family and financial situation.
Draft a legally sound trust document that clearly articulates your wishes and provides maximum protection for your son.[11]
Ensure the trust is properly funded to avoid the probate process.[12]
Explain the tax implications of your decisions.
Help you navigate the difficult conversations with your wife and potential trustees.

Taking these steps now will provide the ultimate peace of mind, knowing that you have done everything in your power to secure a stable and protected financial future for your son, long after you are gone.

Sources:
gibperk.com
heritageelderlaw.com
estateandprobatelegalgroup.com
frankkraft.com
lgarzalaw.com
mcandrewslaw.com
fsalaw.com
westlaw.com
clemonslaw.com
gibperk.com
slhslaw.com
paestateplanners.com

Even if the AC would have infinite efficiency (instead of typical values of 2-3), you are increasing temperature out-of-the-house by reducing temperature in-house

So then, you can just shut off your AC and just have it permanently cooler inside, right?

Wait, no you can't?

That's right, because heat leaks back into the house from the outside - warming your house, and cooling the exterior. And the amount it cools the exterior is approximately equal to the amount you're pumping out. Only the energy used by the AC is actually changing the outdoor temperature. But it's utterly dwarfed by the impact of the sun.

(I stress "approximately because there's some slight radiative balance changes - the heat outflow is a point source while the inflows are diffuse, and thermal radiation is proportional to the temperature to the fourth power - but it remains a trivial factor in practice)

Physically, we're non-continental. There is no "continental shelf" here. We're not on continental crust. We're a part of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, the Atlantic seafloor, that protrudes above sea level. We're MORB, not granitic crust. Tectonic plates != continents. The North American plate for example contains large amounts of both continental and oceanic crust.

And yes, geopolitically, we're entirely European.

** Of the places I've visited on the mainland. Ireland, England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Austria, Czechia... wait, I do remember that my hotel in Paris didn't have AC, and I was utterly miserable there. Czechia and Austria were in the winter / early spring so one wouldn't notice. But I'd think I'd remember if the others had it or didn't...

It's weird that I can't remember the AC status of the places on the mainland. I can say that here in Iceland AC is rarely used, usually only ventilation systems (if that) on large buildings, while homes and apartments usually just open windows.