Search found 302 matches

by gizmo_rat
Mon Sep 11, 2017 10:22 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Equifax hack
Replies: 57
Views: 29909

Re: Equifax hack

I'm surprised this news doesn't seem to be getting a lot of attention. The theft of enough personal information to facilitate the ID theft of 140 million people sounds like the potential death of ez-credit as a policy to me. At the personal level here's a guide to protect yourself in the short term....
by gizmo_rat
Thu May 18, 2017 6:19 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Has everyone gone insane?
Replies: 36
Views: 23501

Re: Has everyone gone insane?

I went on a media fast when I found myself reading about golden showergate in what used to be a 'serious' newspaper. If it's any consolation brexit was causing previously unseen levels of stupid in the UK media. Fortunately, IRL few seem to care, which restores my faith in humanity somewhat. Take it...
by gizmo_rat
Thu May 04, 2017 6:22 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: UK Permanent Portfolio - please advise!
Replies: 3
Views: 4921

Re: UK Permanent Portfolio - please advise!

Hi Welcome to the forum. Looks like a sound plan, just a few comments for consideration. fscs compensation limits are 85K for cash and 50K for investments per person per institution, so consider spreading your stash around a few brokers. Aim to use your tax exempt accounts carefully, I'd suggest wra...
by gizmo_rat
Fri Mar 17, 2017 4:50 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Question for original forum members
Replies: 42
Views: 30187

Re: Question for original forum members

I do wonder about some of the early members like Wonk, gizmo-rat, 6 iron, WildAboutHarry, et al who seldom post now, or not at all. I want to know if they moved to a different strategy or just got tired of the forum, as the portfolio mostly runs itself. I'm still around and stuck with the PP. I'm a...
by gizmo_rat
Thu Nov 24, 2016 2:33 pm
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: IoT- The Internet of Things
Replies: 5
Views: 7690

Re: IoT- The Internet of Things

IoT devices are useless, poorly made insecure POS. When theyre not spewing your private data to some dodgy server in China, theyre harnessed in some botnet DDoSing the entire interwebz. All lovingly chronicled on https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=internetofshit Probably best considered as a contra...
by gizmo_rat
Thu Jun 02, 2016 4:10 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: New York's Outdated Knife Law (NYT)
Replies: 25
Views: 10859

Re: New York's Outdated Knife Law (NYT)

Meh, I had to purchase (at premium) an approved under 18 street legal pen knife for my daughter's unsupervised camping expedition. http://shop.getoutwiththekids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DofE-Victorinox-penknife-tools.jpg Note the rounded unsharpened end to the blade. The pointed end to the s...
by gizmo_rat
Wed Apr 20, 2016 3:58 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Sophie, you didn't tell us you had been replaced!
Replies: 83
Views: 23109

Re: Sophie, you didn't tell us you had been replaced!

But the problem with the people in The Millionaire Next Door is they're fucking boring. Yep, when complete conformity (do well at school, get a good job in finance, engineering or law, max out your 401k, don't do anything "stupid", retire at 45 and play with your spreadsheet...just look at Buffet )...
by gizmo_rat
Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:44 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How Many Items of Clothing do Nomads Own?
Replies: 28
Views: 12950

Re: How Many Items of Clothing do Nomads Own?

Mark Leavy wrote: Everything ready to throw in the pack
Wow, I send the kids off to school with bigger packs than that.

This actually makes me smile, I think I'm envious of your stuff.
by gizmo_rat
Fri Mar 11, 2016 10:50 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Tech Help Needed
Replies: 45
Views: 18364

Re: Tech Help Needed

With the caveat that I mostly use a mac, it sounds like an ownership problem which would occur on any version of windows in these circumstances. Changing ownership of files and folders in windows is a bit of a faf but there's shortcut you can install to add a 'take ownership' item to the context men...
by gizmo_rat
Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:42 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Indoor CO2
Replies: 62
Views: 27038

Re: Indoor CO2

Gumby wrote: I wonder if these things can survive with normal incandescent lights?
Peace lilies and Spider plants, pretty much bombproof and tolerant of low light.
by gizmo_rat
Thu Feb 11, 2016 5:48 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Google Chrome: restoring prior sessions
Replies: 17
Views: 7085

Re: Google Chrome: restoring prior sessions

Is there a way using chrome or an extension, so that you can recover tabs from prior session under most circumstances. Under those circumstances I right click on the new tab and select second option from the bottom of the menu, menu item is "Reopen closed window" or "Reopen closed tab"  depending o...
by gizmo_rat
Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:22 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Phase 2 of going PP
Replies: 11
Views: 6348

Re: Phase 2 of going PP

mase wrote: I am from the UK, 25/75 what average returns would I be looking at.
3.6% real.

Real (after inflation) annual return over the last 50 years
STK 5.7%,
BND 2.9%.


Or have a look at transferring it into a SIPP when you change jobs or sooner if your employer will pay into a sipp.
by gizmo_rat
Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:25 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Elementary OS, Freya (Linux): tried it?
Replies: 29
Views: 12665

Re: Elementary OS, Freya (Linux): tried it?

I tried it a while ago, it's good in that its fast, stable and looks inoffensive. However it felt a little clumsy to me particularly once I'd started adding in a couple of other applications, I then fubar'd it fiddling around. Which actually pretty much sums up my whole linux experience. I'm looking...
by gizmo_rat
Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:12 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1384892

Re: Figuring Out Religion

Tortoise wrote: In other words, when you will your hand to move and it moves, you are exercising a limited form of "supernatural influence" over your physical body.
Worse than that, something else wills your hand to move about 1/2 second before you do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroscience_of_free_will
by gizmo_rat
Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:58 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Something is very off in the bond market
Replies: 44
Views: 24314

Re: Something is very off in the bond market

MG, I'm still trying to figure out if your IQ and knowledge is so far beyond mine that I can't understand what your are saying and probably never will or whether you are just full of sh**. Impossible to call, I suspected the latter, but MG raised a few things years ago that directly impacted me in ...
by gizmo_rat
Fri Nov 27, 2015 10:51 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: This Forum & Dissenting Opinions of the HBPP
Replies: 190
Views: 61435

Re: This Forum & Dissenting Opinions of the HBPP

In general some people swing from extreme to extreme and some people covertly encourage conflict amongst others to satisfy their own needs. It would probably be unreasonable to expect otherwise, particularly on an investment forum.
by gizmo_rat
Thu Nov 05, 2015 7:53 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: The PP Interviews
Replies: 31
Views: 14994

Re: The PP Interviews

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but well done both of you, a very interesting podcast.
Tyler you are sounding worryingly articulate about obscure portfolio comparisons, go back and edit in some "umm dunno's" ;) 
by gizmo_rat
Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:28 am
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Price updates when owning bonds directly
Replies: 18
Views: 12096

Re: Price updates when owning bonds directly

mercuryfish wrote: would you like to give me the link of Ryan Melvey's Stable Investing site???I Can't find it out.thank you.
http://www.stableinvesting.com
by gizmo_rat
Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:06 am
Forum: Stocks
Topic: FTSE 100 vs All-Shares: does it matter? (UK PP)
Replies: 7
Views: 6836

Re: FTSE 100 vs All-Shares: does it matter? (UK PP)

FTSE 100 is 80% of overall market cap. The FTSE all share does pretty much just track it, although it has beaten it marginally over the last couple of decades. Probably doesn't matter. https://www.lovemoney.com/news/45718/ftse-100-250-allshare-stock-market-indices-pros-and-cons-investing The questio...
by gizmo_rat
Wed Sep 09, 2015 3:00 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: All PP assets trending down: When has this happened before? Kinda scary...
Replies: 73
Views: 24909

Re: All PP assets trending down: When has this happened before? Kinda scary...

i think the situation  with the pp requires careful watching going forward and forget the past it may not apply anymore . if you see the pp can't get traction to pull itself out you may have to rethink things and cancel some of that insurance in order to keep eating . . Yes... but I think that appl...
by gizmo_rat
Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:08 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Chromebook, tablet, or Linux
Replies: 28
Views: 14999

Re: Chromebook, tablet, or Linux

I happened upon a build of ChromiumOs ( the open source bit of the chromebook OS) that includes a quite a few older device drivers and so stands a reasonable chance of running on older equipment. It worked on an old very generic laptop I had laying about and is impressively quick even off a USB stic...
by gizmo_rat
Tue Sep 08, 2015 5:10 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: All PP assets trending down: When has this happened before? Kinda scary...
Replies: 73
Views: 24909

Re: All PP assets trending down: When has this happened before? Kinda scary...

my opinion is all anyone is doing with charts of the past is driving and looking in the rear view mirror  and may be  developing a false sense of feeling good . I'm pretty sure that the only claims I read about the PP are it's based on a macro model that has yet to be proven false.  eventually ther...
by gizmo_rat
Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:46 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: New portfolio sense check(UK)
Replies: 16
Views: 12974

Re: New portfolio sense check(UK)

Stock: IWRD as an ETF (45%) Bonds Direct purchase of 30 year UK Gilts (25%), I'd be interested if people think whether even longer dates bonds would work, the UK govt offers even longer dated bonds. Gold: SGLD (5%) Cash: Offset mortgage (25%). This seems a good way to use the cash component. Any co...
by gizmo_rat
Tue Aug 04, 2015 3:50 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: New portfolio sense check(UK)
Replies: 16
Views: 12974

Re: New portfolio sense check(UK)

It's all good, a couple of minor points to think about; Check your broker's fee structure is a good fit for your portfolio size and holdings http://monevator.com/compare-uk-cheapest-online-brokers/ Unless you have an overriding reason for using the Vanguard find you might consider holding the Bonds ...
by gizmo_rat
Sat Jul 18, 2015 10:05 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: I Bask in the Awesomeness of Gold
Replies: 41
Views: 18285

Re: I Bask in the Awesomeness of Gold

I bought some Swiss annuities while they were still available for purchase by Americans. They are paying 2% or so, which is a lot better than I can get anywhere else, and I like the long-term prospects of the Swiss Franc relative to the US dollar. Nice, I think I'd sleep soundly with that portfolio...