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by sophie
Thu May 20, 2021 9:56 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)
Replies: 35
Views: 9568

Re: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)

Where are YOU getting your data from? I went to this webpage (you have to click on "trends" to get to this): https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data-trends.page Then click on "hospitalizations" which is the most reliable statistic to use. "Cases" is completely dependent on extent of testin...
by sophie
Wed May 19, 2021 10:21 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)
Replies: 35
Views: 9568

Re: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)

Tucker Carlson is calling the desire to continue to wear masks despite the CDC's recommendation evidence of neurosis. Many of these people plan to wear masks indefinitely I guess, because COVID will always be with us and no vaccine is ever going to be 100% protective. My sister & family are good exa...
by sophie
Tue May 18, 2021 3:29 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists
Replies: 10
Views: 3367

Re: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists

Crime stats reported by the NYPD form April 2021, compared to April 2020: Overall: 30.4% increase Grand larceny: 66% increase Shooting incidents: 166% increase Murder: 15.8% increase Police arrests for gun-related crimes: 3.7% increase. Note the disparity with the increase in shooting incidents. Cri...
by sophie
Tue May 18, 2021 9:36 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists
Replies: 10
Views: 3367

Re: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists

I forgot to mention that contribution of the new bail law. That was Andrew Cuomo's way of giving NYC a huge middle finger, I take it. That law should have been called what it is: a new catch and release policy for criminals of all types, including violent ones.
by sophie
Tue May 18, 2021 9:29 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: Post gold standard data
Replies: 22
Views: 6435

Re: Post gold standard data

Interesting comparison, Shrugged! A similar comparison can be made for home prices. My parents bought their house in 1968 for $45,000. At the time, my father was working as a civil engineer for $8,000 a year. That prices the house at 5.6x salary. Today, that same house will sell for $600-700K (it's ...
by sophie
Tue May 18, 2021 7:28 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists
Replies: 10
Views: 3367

Re: DHS: Easing of CoVid Restrictions Creates Opportunities for Violent Extremists

I saw an article about how NYC police are gearing up in expectation of a long, hot, violent summer. With the warmer weather this past week, the number of violent incidents popping up on my Citizen app has gotten quite alarming. Subway stabbings, murders, armed home break-ins, etc....at least 1 or 2 ...
by sophie
Mon May 17, 2021 6:58 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)
Replies: 35
Views: 9568

Re: Masks Revealed as the Political Symbol They Are (And Have Always Been)

The majority of mask wearers were non white. I am 100% certain exactly zero percent of them were making a political statement of any kind. Huh, interesting. It's exactly the opposite here in NYC. Lots of people are walking around without masks in the beautiful spring weather, and it's wonderful to ...
by sophie
Tue May 11, 2021 9:30 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Rebalancing into more LTT
Replies: 103
Views: 27966

Re: Rebalancing into more LTT

Whenever you rebalance, almost by definition you feel like you're about to make huge mistake. Because, you're selling assets that have shot up in value and that everyone is dazzled by and wants to buy more of. And you're buying assets that have gone into the crapper and that everyone is telling you ...
by sophie
Mon May 03, 2021 2:40 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: 70% of Republicans Believe Falsehood of Stolen Election
Replies: 29
Views: 7337

Re: 70% of Republicans Believe Falsehood of Stolen Election

The undertone here is: How dare the American people disagree with us, CNN, the font of all that is holy?? Based on their numbers it looks like about half the population (70% of Republicans, 30% of Democrats) believe that the election results were not valid. I don't care what CNN's opinion is, in the...
by sophie
Mon May 03, 2021 9:39 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Dragon Portfolio
Replies: 23
Views: 9630

Re: Dragon Portfolio

Some random internet dude (https://www.investwithfire.com/dragon-portfolio-protect-your-wealth/) suggested this allocation: Dragon Portfolio 24% Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) 18% Long-Term Government Bonds – via the iShares Barclays 20+ Year US Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) 21% Long Volatility – ...
by sophie
Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:53 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Institutional diversification (Fidelity worries)
Replies: 22
Views: 6333

Re: Institutional diversification (Fidelity worries)

Long time Fidelity customer here. You have to keep in mind that they are a discount brokerage. They provide excellent services, but their customer service at the individual level is meant to be used only minimally. I have had generally - but not universally - good experiences when calling them for a...
by sophie
Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:12 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs
Replies: 43
Views: 14514

Re: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs

An RMD cannot be rolled over to a Roth. If you are above the age at which RMDs are required, you must take your RMD before you do any Roth conversions. Ah, didn't know that. If you don't have a lot of money in tax-deferred I guess you wouldn't need to worry so much about withdrawals kicking you int...
by sophie
Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:03 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs
Replies: 43
Views: 14514

Re: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs

Another consideration: inheritance. This is going to be extra tricky to manage because we simply don't know whether Biden's current proposals will pass. These include reducing the estate tax exclusion from $11.5M to $3.5M, which will devastate small businesses that will effectively be forced to liqu...
by sophie
Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:59 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs
Replies: 43
Views: 14514

Re: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs

Thanks pp4me! That's virtually identical to what I'm doing. I'm still saving and not drawing down of course, but the asset distribution among accounts should be the same. Main difference is that when I retire, I'll dump out all my 401K/403b accounts into a single IRA so that I have full control over...
by sophie
Wed Apr 21, 2021 9:57 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs
Replies: 43
Views: 14514

Re: Golden Butterfly asset location when retired with RMDs

I would do what I'm already doing: pack the tax-deferred accounts with cash, gold and bonds. These are the assets that are likely to gain the least over time. use tax-exempt (Roth and HSA) for stocks. I put some gold in here also. In taxable you want stocks, savings bonds, and "deep" physical gold. ...
by sophie
Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:01 pm
Forum: Cash
Topic: New I-bond rate: 3.54%
Replies: 84
Views: 26709

Re: New I-bond rate: 3.54%

Tipswatch has announced that the new variable component of I-bonds will reset to 3.54% on May 1, 2021. Even if the new fixed rate is announced as 0%, that means that the composite rate for the next six months of I-bonds is guaranteed to be at least 3.54%. 1. If you have not yet purchased your quota...
by sophie
Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:44 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: They All Look Alike
Replies: 6
Views: 3392

Re: They All Look Alike

I'm glad you found something light hearted in the news today Maddy, because otherwise it's all kinda depressing. Most especially, that Joe Biden (or whoever is controlling him behind the scenes) has taken the first steps toward Supreme Court packing by convening a commission. Which is of course seve...
by sophie
Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:15 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Inflation
Replies: 68
Views: 24038

Re: Inflation

Geez, $330 for just the service call??? Highway robbery, that is. I used the youtube video method to figure out how to replace a broken kitchen faucet. My super bitched to me about how I shouldn't do it myself because I'd be liable etc. Well, I'd be liable if the plumber screwed up too. And after my...
by sophie
Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:20 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: The Bond Dream Room
Replies: 554
Views: 359483

Re: The Bond Dream Room

I expect that a $15 minimum wage law would result in lots more people being hired for cash under the table. Maybe that's part of the intent, because that's how illegal immigrants can live here without any official presence. And God knows we're now getting a ton more of them. Good one pp4me. The real...
by sophie
Sat Mar 27, 2021 11:17 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: I need to buy some gold!
Replies: 31
Views: 9167

Re: I need to buy some gold!

Don't think that would get you off the hook, Mark. From what I've read, allocated storage of physical gold in a safe deposit box or wine vault or whatever, is not subject to reporting requirements. But, unallocated accounts like the Perth Mint are. It helps of course that the IRS is not at all clear...
by sophie
Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:14 pm
Forum: Gold
Topic: I need to buy some gold!
Replies: 31
Views: 9167

Re: I need to buy some gold!

But you still have to file FBAR and the income tax form when your holdings hit the appropriate thresholds. They're careful not to tell you but they kinda do. Arguments for not having to file?? I don't know of any I'd rely on. I've looked into these services in the past and I always come to the same ...
by sophie
Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:58 pm
Forum: Politics
Topic: Sydney Powell's defense
Replies: 25
Views: 6169

Re: Sydney Powell's defense

Actually I think most people who voted for Biden could not tell you what his policies are if you asked them. They voted for him because they were told so by numerous mainstream media outlets. If you ask these people for reasons, you would hear the following: 1) they hated trump. 2) sunshine and poni...
by sophie
Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:55 am
Forum: Gold
Topic: I need to buy some gold!
Replies: 31
Views: 9167

Re: I need to buy some gold!

Would you consider something like BullionVault, which has storage in Singapore, Switzerland, etc? You can have your holdings in specific reserved bars (by serial#) vs generic allocated storage, if you like. I'm not affiliated, but am a customer. I'm looking at their website now. Storage fee is only...
by sophie
Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:39 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: The Left is Eating Itself Pt. II
Replies: 845
Views: 424381

Re: The Left is Eating Itself Pt. II

Bring on the $15 minimum wage! If it passes, buy stock in this company immediately.

https://misorobotics.com/flippy/
by sophie
Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:47 am
Forum: Politics
Topic: The Left is Eating Itself Pt. II
Replies: 845
Views: 424381

Re: The Left is Eating Itself Pt. II

This is another thing I don't get. Why would stores open in high crime areas, particularly when they get no help from the city because of idiotic things like bail reform and defunding of police? Mostly they don't. This is why there's so much squawking about "food deserts" in slums where there are n...