Ha. This is the message board equivalent of a movie trailer that gives away the entire plot. Your post is great, but you could have stopped after the first sentence. ; )MediumTex wrote: I have read and listened to David Brooks for many years and I have concluded that he is a complete idiot.
Search found 2066 matches
- Tue Jun 11, 2013 4:10 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: David brooks is tired of all this libertarianism
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2788
Re: David brooks is tired of all this libertarianism
- Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:01 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: David brooks is tired of all this libertarianism
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2788
Re: David brooks is tired of all this libertarianism
This lens makes you more likely to share the distinct strands of libertarianism that are blossoming in this fragmenting age: the deep suspicion of authority, the strong belief that hierarchies and organizations are suspect, the fervent devotion to transparency, the assumption that individual prefer...
- Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:32 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden: Heroes or Traitors
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2811
Re: Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden: Heroes or Traitors
I'll need more info on Snowden before passing judgment. Sometimes even a traitor can accomplish a public good, and the final chapter hasn't been written yet. The fact that a former CIA agent sought refuge in China doesn't exactly reassure me that this will ultimately end with the US stronger than ...
- Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:20 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: I hope you get these right!
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5631
Re: I hope you get these right!
The low scores would seem to corroborate my observations that the average American has no idea what the hell theyre doing when it comes to money. In my circle of friends, even the ones in middle management banking are pretty clueless. What are the odds that the average congressman would score 3 or ...
- Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:55 pm
- Forum: Bonds
- Topic: Long bond allocation
- Replies: 12
- Views: 6426
Re: Long bond allocation
I've thought about moving "expired" 20 year long bonds to the VP rather than selling them. For the PP, though, I'd stick with the barbell approach. Even though a collection of Treasuries with "average" maturity of 10 years might deliver the same performance in the accumulation...
- Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:50 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: Low-cost smart phone plans
- Replies: 35
- Views: 17882
Re: Low-cost smart phone plans
Last December I switched to Virgin Mobile and have been pleased so far. 300min voice + unlimited texts and data costs a flat $30/month for my iPhone. The only catch I've seen is that they're usually a generation behind on iPhone models and the data network is only 3G (neither bother me - hedonic ad...
- Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:40 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: Ridiculous Euphemisms
- Replies: 27
- Views: 17154
Re: Ridiculous Euphemisms
Well, apparently "Funemployment" is a thing now. You're good.FarmerD wrote: I expect the trend to continue. You'll hear the following phrases used within the next five years:
"You're happysized!"
"You're splendidsized!"
"You're orgasmsized!"
- Wed Jun 05, 2013 4:03 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: "...for the money you cannot afford to lose."
- Replies: 21
- Views: 10753
Re: "...for the money you cannot afford to lose."
It depends on your investing goal and timeframe. I'm actively saving towards early retirement in the next 1-2 years. With that goal in mind, "money I can't afford to lose" is that which would drastically change my plans if the funds vaporized tomorrow. If I was still 20 years out from my r...
- Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:26 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
It seems if you're diversified you're treading water at the moment, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Watching the markets right now feels like watching Game of Thrones. You know full well that you're being set up for one of the major characters to be killed off, but you have no idea who or ...
- Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:37 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: The robotic future cometh
- Replies: 31
- Views: 8901
Re: The robotic future cometh
If you really distill it to its essence, I think that robotics is only going to kill off all the sucky jobs like moving heavy or dangerous substances from point A to Point B which if you think about it, describes an awful lot of jobs, from factory work to trucking, and virtually all farming and res...
- Fri May 31, 2013 1:16 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: ANOTHER 30%+ increase in our insurance rates
- Replies: 39
- Views: 11300
Re: ANOTHER 30%+ increase in our insurance rates
Good healthcare summary, Pointedstick. Don't forget about the laws that forbid insurance companies from selling policies across state lines. Even with the ACA, that's the reason there are 50+ exchanges to set up and not just one. Personally, I wish they would just: 1) Do away with the state lines i...
- Thu May 30, 2013 4:53 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
- Replies: 35
- Views: 12631
Re: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
It's easy to underestimate the pull of large urban areas. Between LA + suburbs, San Jose, San Francisco, and the rest of the SF bay area, that's 18 million people, or half the entire state population. These areas are massively, overwhelmingly liberal areas. I've always found the Silicon Valley demo...
- Thu May 30, 2013 2:29 pm
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
- Replies: 35
- Views: 12631
Re: California Debates How to Blow Tax Windfall
I certainly find the economic discussions regarding QE and monetary theory here to be far more balanced than any political stereotype would indicate. On a fundamentally financial forum, that's what really counts.
The rest is just entertainment. ; )
The rest is just entertainment. ; )
- Wed May 29, 2013 3:42 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Permanent Portfolio
- Replies: 60
- Views: 26307
Re: Permanent Portfolio
My Subaru has been providing reliable and versatile transportation for years. It's true that a Ferrari would have been faster and flashier over that time horizon. But that's really irrelevant to whether the Subaru worked as I needed it to. It did and so I'm satisfied with it. I could post "a F...
- Wed May 29, 2013 1:00 am
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Permanent Portfolio
- Replies: 60
- Views: 26307
Re: Permanent Portfolio
With all the angst on the board today, I logged into my brokerage account to see where I am for the year. Even with gold suffering a large correction recently and bonds sinking, I'm still up almost 1%. To be honest, that surprised me. I'm very satisfied. At some point in my investing life I stopp...
- Fri May 24, 2013 12:47 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Taxable PP and 35% Re-balance Band
- Replies: 19
- Views: 6830
Re: Taxable PP and 35% Re-balance Band
Things like tax loss harvesting, continuous rebalancing with new funds, or splitting the rebalance between December & January to spread income across multiple tax years can all help you in certain situations. That said, so much depends on your personal situation (income, state, etc) that it prob...
- Thu May 23, 2013 10:29 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: "Generation X: An Inconvenient Era"
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3301
Re: "Generation X: An Inconvenient Era"
Interesting article. I agree with it in the sense that timing is absolutely important and people underestimate the societal impact of the Boomers based solely on their size relative to other generations. "All things being equal" is a natural fallacy -- The market is never constant. Still,...
- Wed May 22, 2013 6:27 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
No worries Bud. As mentioned, your angst gives voice to what many are feeling.
- Wed May 22, 2013 5:49 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
Seen in this light, I can absolutely understand the appeal of such a portfolio. It seems like it's very psychologically well suited for someone whose two major goals are participating to a large extent in the stock party, but losing less than others when the party ends. Yeah, that makes sense. But ...
- Wed May 22, 2013 4:58 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
PP(VTI/TLT/SGOL/SCHO): -0.8%
60/40 (VTI/TLT): -1.2%
60/40 (VTI/TLT): -1.2%
- Wed May 22, 2013 1:45 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Ben Bernankes speech and the four asset classes?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2582
Re: Ben Bernankes speech and the four asset classes?
I give the man credit - that takes talent.Reub wrote: Bernanke speaks and the 3 volatile asset classes all crash! Wonderful!
I feel inspired to start a mattress ETF. Profit!
- Mon May 20, 2013 9:36 am
- Forum: Other Discussions
- Topic: How free is your state?
- Replies: 25
- Views: 8391
Re: How free is your state?
Texas public school funding comes from property taxes, and although Texas houses are relatively inexpensive the property taxes are pretty high. There are good schools and bad ones just like any state. Since 41.5% of Hispanics choose not to carry health insurance, it makes sense that border states ...
- Fri May 17, 2013 3:09 pm
- Forum: Gold
- Topic: The GOLD scream room
- Replies: 3693
- Views: 1784086
Re: The GOLD scream room
On days like today, remember that frustration like this is an opportunity for great profit!
[EDIT to label the mystery link: I imagine this is what the gold scream room looks like ]
http://tinyurl.com/ax43yfu
[EDIT to label the mystery link: I imagine this is what the gold scream room looks like ]
http://tinyurl.com/ax43yfu
- Fri May 17, 2013 1:22 pm
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
It appears as if the 25% allocation to stocks is insufficient to buoy the entire PP even with a 30% allocation to equities, 20% to Gold and 25% each to LTT and Cash (current allocation). It's only May. Give it time. Even as tides come and go, bouys still bob with the waves. The PP is still on mu...
- Thu May 16, 2013 10:04 am
- Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
- Topic: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
- Replies: 412
- Views: 162548
Re: Oh how it hurts to see no gains
I had a similar experience last year when I started my portfolio. Looking backward, I had chosen the worst month of the year to start a PP; I still ended the year up 4 or 5%. It all evens out eventually, but starting out it can be painful to watch. Starting a PP in a bad month sure beats ending a...