Search found 1950 matches

by Mark Leavy
Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:25 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: calculating duration of portfolio
Replies: 6
Views: 4319

Re: calculating duration of portfolio

I don't know if it's fully imbiginated on my screen. Is there a yellow row below the blue one? It sounds like you can see everything I intentionally posted.  The yellow row hinted at below the blue is a gold purchase - clipped off below the bond purchase.  I tried to show just one row of bonds - as...
by Mark Leavy
Sat Apr 11, 2015 8:51 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?
Replies: 571
Views: 329643

Re: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?

I recently had a chunk of cash to invest.  This is what I decided to do. 1) I'm a big fan of the PP and investing in economic diversity. 2) I think Shannon's daemon makes a whole lot of sense. 3) XIV (thank you kbg) is a highly volatile, revert to the mean ETN. 4) LT USA Bonds and physical gold are ...
by Mark Leavy
Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:48 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: calculating duration of portfolio
Replies: 6
Views: 4319

Re: calculating duration of portfolio

I've just recently added an average bond duration calculation to my google spreadsheet. It was an interesting exercise and I learned a lot from it. Use the google finance "yield" and "duration" functions.  I did this for each of my bond holdings and then calculated the weighted average across my bon...
by Mark Leavy
Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:46 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How to Remap Analog to Digital Equalization?
Replies: 3
Views: 934

Re: How to Remap Analog to Digital Equalization?

Do you think its hitting the exact setting on the in-between frequencies, i.e. 100, 330, 3300? Not exact, but short of knowing the exact filter design for each stage of both equalizers, this is as good an estimate as you can get. It would probably sound better if you had a musician friend come over...
by Mark Leavy
Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:50 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How to Remap Analog to Digital Equalization?
Replies: 3
Views: 934

Re: How to Remap Analog to Digital Equalization?

A few small tweaks produces a good fit.

[img width=600]http://i57.tinypic.com/63vn05.png[/img]
by Mark Leavy
Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:40 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Examine.com 4 superfoods you should be eating
Replies: 35
Views: 16344

Re: Examine.com 4 superfoods you should be eating

I'm pretty sure nitrates convert to nitrosamines and nitrites in the body, not just from high heat cooking. What's your opinion of celery and other "healthy" greens?  (n.b. look for "dehydrated celery juice" on your "organic" hot dogs or "nitrate free" bacon). Personally I don't touch that stuff.  ...
by Mark Leavy
Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:31 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Equal Pay for Equal Work
Replies: 20
Views: 6057

Re: Equal Pay for Equal Work

Scott Adams (of Dilbert Fame) very recently posted a thoughtful review on this topic.

http://blog.dilbert.com/post/1140555296 ... -workplace
by Mark Leavy
Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:03 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Dividend Growth vs Shareholder Yield
Replies: 16
Views: 8274

Re: Dividend Growth vs Shareholder Yield

The problem with shareholder yield is that it is all funny money.  Numbers from an annual report you may or may not be able to trust.  How can you tell the companies that are reporting honestly versus the companies that are hiding a huge issue?  Total stock market bias overrides a lot of the numbers...
by Mark Leavy
Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:03 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Myopia Boom
Replies: 5
Views: 1329

Re: The Myopia Boom

It's not that hard to walk 2 to 5 miles a day outside. Not only will you get the benefits of full spectrum light, but you will also be changing your focus from 2 feet to 20 miles every few seconds as you glance around. Seriously, is there anything easier than that? Plus, get your deadlift up to 2x y...
by Mark Leavy
Thu Mar 19, 2015 1:40 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: On the Perils of Being an Evil Capitalist
Replies: 28
Views: 9157

Re: On the Perils of Being an Evil Capitalist

MG - thank you for starting this topic - and thanks to all of the others that have commented and thrown some light on how the credit system works. I've been curious as to what happens when one completely steps away from the system.  About 8 years ago, I got rid of all debt except my mortgage, and th...
by Mark Leavy
Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:33 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Is Intermittent Fasting Good For You?
Replies: 104
Views: 33952

Re: Is Intermittent Fasting Good For You?

You guys are really overthinking this. Super easy to lose weight and preserve lean body mass. One meal a day around 4 pm.  All the coffee in the morning that you want. 3X week of strength training. Make your meal good and strong.  Lean protein, a few eggs, some pate every now and then.  A half a bot...
by Mark Leavy
Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:13 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: How Are You Doing In PP?
Replies: 97
Views: 39475

Re: How Are You Doing In PP?

Cully, you absolutely have to avoid long positions in 2X and 3X leveraged and inverse ETFs or ETNs... due to the DECAY phenomenon. Intraday is OK, going long is not. Look at the first chart shown, it will frighten you to DEATH. http://seekingalpha.com/article/104703-explaining-inverse-and-leveraged...
by Mark Leavy
Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:17 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Questions to Consider, Interested in Thoughts
Replies: 19
Views: 8140

Re: Questions to Consider, Interested in Thoughts

Some very good comments so far. I've always liked the 4 bucket analogy for the PP. The US's gross domestic product is growing at some rate.  Someone is creating value and that value is going somewhere.  Harry surmised that holding bonds, equities, gold and cash would be a sufficient portfolio such ...
by Mark Leavy
Sun Mar 15, 2015 1:42 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Help me choose a secondary computer
Replies: 47
Views: 20377

Re: Help me choose a second computer

My wife would like to have a low-capability laptop <snip> She's been looking on line and was attracted to the HP Stream (the $279 version). </snip> If you were an expert, I would recommend that you buy your wife a mac Air and give it to her as a surprise. If your wife were an expert, you would be o...
by Mark Leavy
Sun Mar 15, 2015 1:32 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Questions to Consider, Interested in Thoughts
Replies: 19
Views: 8140

Re: Questions to Consider, Interested in Thoughts

Should it matter which asset/s carry the portfolio to earn a positive inflation adjusted return? Also, what is the thought process behind having one or more assets outpacing the other assets to achieve this gain? Some very good comments so far. I've always liked the 4 bucket analogy for the PP. The...
by Mark Leavy
Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:22 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: 0% Inflation? HAH!
Replies: 10
Views: 3359

Re: 0% Inflation? HAH!

MachineGhost made a comment in a different thread that T-Bills are, unintuitively, the best hedge agains inflation.  He didn't add much explanation. I've been trying to wrap my head around that, and I've somehow managed to convince myself that it makes sense.  I don't know what MG's reasoning is, bu...
by Mark Leavy
Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:14 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: A Survey of 15 Top Asset Allocation Strategies
Replies: 29
Views: 11015

Re: A Survey of 15 Top Asset Allocation Strategies

dragoncar wrote: I recently rebalanced my bonds at TD Ameritrade and saw a ridiculous spread.  Like .4% below the price Fidelity was offering. Ugh.
Ouch.
I use Vanguard for bonds.  The spreads are tight.  No commission.  The user interface sucks.
by Mark Leavy
Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:59 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: A Survey of 15 Top Asset Allocation Strategies
Replies: 29
Views: 11015

Re: A Survey of 15 Top Asset Allocation Strategies

I would think continuous tax loss harvesting would be very difficult with a PP unless you were willing to expand your definitions of appropriate bonds, appropriate stocks and be willing to swap out gold with some other real asset. Wash rules still apply. Stocks - swap between VTI and SPY. Bonds  - ...
by Mark Leavy
Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:42 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: How much to gamble in a VP and how frequent are your trades?
Replies: 13
Views: 8058

Re: How much to gamble in a VP and how frequent are your trades?

My understanding from HB's writings and lectures is that your "Permanent Portfolio" doesn't have to be the traditional HBPP.  It can be any conservative investment where you aren't expecting anything more than average market returns.  Money you can't afford to lose, invested safely and inexpensively...
by Mark Leavy
Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:29 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Interest rates
Replies: 15
Views: 5704

Re: Interest rates

Contrary to popular belief, T-Bills are actually the best inflation hedge. That's an interesting thought.  What I understand you to mean is that market forces will drive the T-Bill rates to exactly match real inflation - and that regardless of whatever published numbers we might read, the T-Bill ra...
by Mark Leavy
Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:12 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: NYTimes shocked to discover that moral relativism has actual consequences
Replies: 32
Views: 5341

Re: NYTimes shocked to discover that moral relativism has actual consequences

Jake, one of the infrequent but very insightful commenters here did a three part series podcast on finding your own moral compass.  I enjoyed it very much.  I thought it was well thought out and aligned and complemented Harry Browne's basic philosophies very well. http://www.thevoluntarylife.com/201...
by Mark Leavy
Sun Mar 01, 2015 3:38 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?
Replies: 571
Views: 329643

Re: 20% annual returns over 40 years...interested?

Just a quick thank you Kbg for your honest and insightful updates.

Reviewing, dissecting, and understanding your posts is an education in the fundamental economics of the permanent portfolio and of leveraged ETFs.
by Mark Leavy
Sun Mar 01, 2015 3:31 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Contrarian investing in ...North Korea!?
Replies: 3
Views: 2547

Re: Contrarian investing in ...North Korea!?

This falls squarely into the "money you can afford to lose" category.

If you have some throw away money that you want to roll the dice with, go for it.

North Korea is a seriously corrupt country. If they decide that you lose, then, you lose.
by Mark Leavy
Sat Feb 28, 2015 2:39 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Anonymity destroys Crypto-Anarcho-Capitalism as the criminals move in
Replies: 4
Views: 999

Re: Anonymity destroys Crypto-Anarcho-Capitalism as the criminals move in

MachineGhost wrote:
Pointedstick wrote: Honest people thrive on accountability; criminals thrive on anonymity.
So, we're all criminals here?  Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)
Speak for yourself :)
by Mark Leavy
Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:15 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Leftist creationism: biological sex differences
Replies: 18
Views: 7582

Re: Leftist creationism: biological sex differences

I really don't have much to add to this thread, but it continues to amaze me. Everyone knows that testosterone is a hell of a drug.  Tissues heals faster, muscles recover and respond better to adaptive stimulus - and they grow larger and leaner.  There is a reason that this shit is illegal.  And why...