Search found 154 matches

by Austen Heller
Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:08 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Marc De Messel Portfolio
Replies: 19
Views: 13985

Re: Marc De Messel Portfolio

Damn, that's awesome. When you're posting videos from your Lambo, you know you have done OK. Marc was awesome to have bequeathed some bitcoins to some of us a few years back. What an awesome guy! He gave me 0.1 bitcoin, which was worth about $30 at the time. I didn't know what to do with it, but the...
by Austen Heller
Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:04 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Get Off this Forum, and Go Outside!
Replies: 4
Views: 3490

Re: Get Off this Forum, and Go Outside!

A few months ago, I was having some back problems, and all the sitting wasn't helping since I found myself naturally slouching a lot. So I made myself a computer station that requires me to stand. It has made a big difference. Now, when I use the computer, the standing burns some low level of calori...
by Austen Heller
Tue Jun 07, 2016 10:58 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Maximum Bond Upside
Replies: 278
Views: 161411

Re: Maximum Bond Upside

New lows in Swiss government bond yields: 20Y: -0.012% 30Y: 0.114% 50Y: 0.208% Brave new world we're living in. :) Give the Swiss gov't your money for 20 years and pay them for the privilege, where do I sign up? This actually reminds me of the Good Ol' Days, and by that I mean the mid-1800's in the...
by Austen Heller
Sun Jun 05, 2016 1:03 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct
Replies: 12
Views: 11512

Re: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct

Hi Sophie, I have run some numbers to help you solve this issue. I assume that your bond has the 0% fixed rate, since you keep referring to the 1.54% inflation component. My calculations will be based on your 0% fixed rate bond. To calculate the bond values, keep in mind that: 1) Interest is compoun...
by Austen Heller
Fri Jun 03, 2016 11:11 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct
Replies: 12
Views: 11512

Re: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct

Excuse me Austen, but I am trying to hate the government here and you are RUINING it! I too am distrustful and am looking for ANY reason to yank out my TD dollars and put them elsewhere, but the I-bond still seems like the best deal in town, especially if we ever get some inflation. Ah, the 3 month...
by Austen Heller
Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Medical marijuana and cancer
Replies: 5
Views: 3682

Re: Medical marijuana and cancer

My understanding is that there are at least 85 different cannabinoids found in marijuana. THC is the most widely known, since that's the one that gets you high, but CBD is the one that has the anti-cancer properties. For instance, it has been shown to decrease the rate of cancer cell growth: http://...
by Austen Heller
Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:49 am
Forum: Cash
Topic: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct
Replies: 12
Views: 11512

Re: Something's wrong at Treasury Direct

Sophie, are you aware that each bond has it's own interest rate cycle? For instance, in May 2015, there was a period of deflation (-0.8%), so all the I-bonds with a fixed rate of 0.8% or less earned 0% interest for 6-months. However, the exact 6-months depended on when the bonds were purchased (see ...
by Austen Heller
Tue May 31, 2016 9:17 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Marijuana Legalization
Replies: 19
Views: 7781

Re: Marijuana Legalization

Here in California, the legalization topic gets discussed a lot. Most folks I know are in favor of it, but who knows, maybe the soccer-moms will come out in force and shut it down. I was at my local hydroponics store last weekend, and I thought those guys would be in favor of the legalization so the...
by Austen Heller
Tue May 31, 2016 2:31 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Permanent Garden
Replies: 51
Views: 20213

Re: The Permanent Garden

Do the greens taste good? Most of them taste great. My favorite flavorful greens are arugula, mustard, orach, and swiss chard. Lettuce is less flavorful, I have been switching to a variety of Endive known as 'Perlita' as a substitute for lettuce, it grows better and has more flavor. Herbs such as b...
by Austen Heller
Tue May 31, 2016 12:52 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Permanent Garden
Replies: 51
Views: 20213

Re: The Permanent Garden

Pests are one of the main reasons I prefer to grow most of my leafy green crops indoors using bucket hydroponics. Lettuce, kale, basil, herbs, I grow them all inside, so they are perfectly clean. Of course I can't grow a lot, since I am limited to the space covered by my grow light. But it sure is n...
by Austen Heller
Sat Apr 30, 2016 12:25 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Anyone wants to have my sheets with historical investment returns? & My views
Replies: 11
Views: 6391

Re: Anyone wants to have my sheets with historical investment returns? & My views

If I ever need a PP again I would take gold and stocks only though, 50/50. Simply because cash in the long run is the only asset not returning real inflation rate and should not be considered an investment, and bonds have been in a 30 year bull market and are way too highly valued to have in a port...
by Austen Heller
Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:26 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: EE Bond Phantom Return Analysis
Replies: 12
Views: 10782

Re: EE Bond Phantom Return Analysis

Is anyone on here buying EE Bonds now with the guaranteed 20-year doubling? I actually did the opposite this year.  Having built up a few years worth, I sold all my EE holdings.  The doubling is a great feature, but I just could not stand the 20-year lock-up.  What if I had some expense come up at ...
by Austen Heller
Fri Apr 29, 2016 12:56 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Managing IT Treasury allocation
Replies: 15
Views: 10747

Re: Managing IT Treasury allocation

Yes, buying at auction is the best way to avoid any markups.  As far as selling, you will have to pay a slight markup, but it should be very small (approx equal to half the bid-ask spread, so about 10 bp if the spread is 20 bp).  And that is just a one-time fee you pay when selling, much better than...
by Austen Heller
Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:02 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Minimum Wage Now $15 an Hour!
Replies: 18
Views: 9488

Re: Minimum Wage Now $15 an Hour!

What does a state really have to gain though by killing small businesses in rural areas? Also, Austen, can I ask what types of products are made in the small business you are referring to? Those wages really strike me as low but maybe I need a reality check. I don't think the state has anything at ...
by Austen Heller
Sat Apr 09, 2016 3:31 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Color of Pee
Replies: 8
Views: 4017

Re: The Color of Pee

For the transparent->amber hydration colors: are these colors calibrated for undiluted urine?  Hardly any of us ever sees a significant quantity of our urine undiluted. Or are these the colors we might see in the john?  In which case, doesn't it depend entirely on what the normal water level is in ...
by Austen Heller
Sat Apr 09, 2016 3:27 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Managing IT Treasury allocation
Replies: 15
Views: 10747

Re: Managing IT Treasury allocation

Here are the reasons I can think of to maintain your own treasury bond ladder: - You save the expense ratio (0.1% or 0.15% depending on the funds/ETFs). - You control exactly which securities are held (100% treasuries, no other securities like MBS). - You can buy at auction, so no bid/ask spread the...
by Austen Heller
Sat Apr 09, 2016 2:11 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Minimum Wage Now $15 an Hour!
Replies: 18
Views: 9488

Re: Minimum Wage Now $15 an Hour!

This will kill small business in rural areas--which may, in the end, be exactly what is intended. I agree with this.  To give you a real-life example, I have a family member who works in a rural low-cost-of-living area of upstate NY, managing a small manufacturing business (< 30 people).  Since mos...
by Austen Heller
Wed Mar 30, 2016 11:41 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Designated Hitter
Replies: 70
Views: 36658

Re: Designated Hitter

None the less, American League baseball had a perfect balance.  A pitcher always got a breather with the 8 and 9 batters.  The pitchers completed games as they did for almost a century.  Weak 8 and 9 batters had a role.  Now we get Babe Ruth batting 2 thru 8 and a couple of Rickey Hendersons leadin...
by Austen Heller
Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:18 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Permanent Garden
Replies: 51
Views: 20213

Re: The Permanent Garden

What is the easy path to hydroponic growing? [?] There is a type of hydroponics especially suited to the home grower, called Bucket Hydroponics or the Kratky Method.  Start your seedlings in rockwool cubes, then suspend the plants above a solution of liquid fertilizer.  No water pumps, no aeration ...
by Austen Heller
Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:49 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Designated Hitter
Replies: 70
Views: 36658

Re: Designated Hitter

I misread the title of this thread at first...

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by Austen Heller
Fri Mar 25, 2016 5:07 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The financial advantages of being a "Digital Nomad"
Replies: 8
Views: 3283

Re: The financial advantages of being a "Digital Nomad"

c) Health care - many of these cheaper countries have stellar health care systems with very reasonable costs, so you also dodge the ballooning costs for US health care (there's a whole medical tourism industry built on this). All you really need is a ~$1k/year travel insurance plan through a compan...
by Austen Heller
Fri Mar 25, 2016 4:49 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Krugers, Maples, Eagles, or 'Roos?
Replies: 17
Views: 10839

Re: Krugers, Maples, Eagles, or 'Roos?

I love the randomness of the government.  :-\ It's not a conspiracy but leftover from gold futures contracts which have reportable minimums. Also exempt: fractional bullion, austrian philharmonic, buffalos, silver leaves, pandas. Personally, if I was going to buy common bullion, I'd buy MintDirect ...
by Austen Heller
Fri Mar 25, 2016 1:18 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: Krugers, Maples, Eagles, or 'Roos?
Replies: 17
Views: 10839

Re: Krugers, Maples, Eagles, or 'Roos?

Perth Kangaroos  $26 round-trip penalty Canadian Maple Leaves  $35 round-trip penalty US Gold Eagles  $39 round-trip penalty Krugerrands  $44 round-trip penalty Seems about right, but the cost for the Krugs is a bit high, that should be on par with the costs for the Maples, a bit cheaper than the E...
by Austen Heller
Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:15 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Mid-March Presidential Election Poll
Replies: 5
Views: 4346

Re: Mid-March Presidential Election Poll

I voted for Hillary (in your poll, not in real life).
Donald is edgy and risky, while Hillary is safe and boring.  After another 8 months of the circus, people will be exhausted and looking for safe and boring.
by Austen Heller
Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:10 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Tech Help Needed
Replies: 45
Views: 18370

Re: Tech Help Needed

Hi all. My 7 year old computer is dying and I finally broke down and got a new one yesterday. Unfortunately it has Windows 10 which I really don't like. It's confusing as hell. Anyways I managed to migrate most of my files to the new computer BUT... I am having a lot of trouble viewing the. I am co...