Search found 4310 matches

by Xan
Mon Aug 03, 2015 2:58 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Kentucky Man Fells Neighbor's Drone
Replies: 5
Views: 1290

Re: Kentucky Man Fells Neighbor's Drone

I see from another headline that the shooter's daughter was sunbathing. I'd probably shoot it down too. I wonder if they will succeed in finding a jury pool in Kentucky who would vote to convict. If the process were fair, no way.  As it is, they filter every jury for people who are willing to convi...
by Xan
Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:55 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How to guide young minds
Replies: 24
Views: 5903

Re: How to guide young minds

Career counselor: Well, chartered accountancy is rather exciting isn't it?

Anchovy: Exciting? No it's not. It's dull. Dull. Dull. My God it's dull, it's so desperately dull and tedious and stuffy and boring and des-per-ate-ly DULL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h-wVe9a6rQ
by Xan
Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:53 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Who is your favorite current "journalist?"
Replies: 6
Views: 959

Re: Who is your favorite current "journalist?"

This probably isn't the kind of journalist you meant, but one David Daleidin has just become the greatest investigative journalist of our time.
by Xan
Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:10 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Killing Cecil The Lion
Replies: 52
Views: 16873

Re: Killing Cecil The Lion

I don't personally care for sport hunting.  Big game or otherwise.  I also find the facts of the case to be legally questionable, and it deserves investigation and possibly prosecution. That said, I find the witch hunt for the head of the dentist to be insane.  The fact that this is the top news st...
by Xan
Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:56 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Killing Cecil The Lion
Replies: 52
Views: 16873

Re: Killing Cecil The Lion

Is there any other kind?
by Xan
Mon Jul 27, 2015 1:19 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Multitude of Laws and Selective Enforcement
Replies: 17
Views: 3072

Re: Multitude of Laws and Selective Enforcement

A closely related issue is that of plea bargaining.  DAs bring up dozens of charges, all for a single event, adding up to four lifetimes in jail, and then say they'll let you off easy if you plead guilty.  What a crock! My wife read me an article recently about a woman who left her 10-year-old in th...
by Xan
Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:23 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Why do you use the PP?
Replies: 177
Views: 74275

Re: Why do you use the PP?

thanks .. i will nominate you for word police . I don't think I'm being pedantic.  You said that if you're not 100% comfortable with an investment, or you have doubts, then you shouldn't be in it. My point was that there will always be doubts.  You have to put your money somewhere, and you will nev...
by Xan
Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:03 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Why do you use the PP?
Replies: 177
Views: 74275

Re: Why do you use the PP?

"MORE" comfortable is not the same as 100% comfortable.
by Xan
Fri Jul 24, 2015 1:26 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Why do you use the PP?
Replies: 177
Views: 74275

Re: Why do you use the PP?

i don't think anyone should own an investment they are not 100% on board with. if you have your doubts then the investment isn't right for you no matter what it is . Strange point of view.  Suppose I don't believe 100% in the PP, but I think it's my best option.  I shouldn't invest in it, then.  Bu...
by Xan
Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:02 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Cashless in tax-advantaged?
Replies: 4
Views: 1786

Re: Cashless in tax-advantaged?

At the moment, it's primarily because of different time horizons for when I might use the money.
by Xan
Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:42 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Cashless in tax-advantaged?
Replies: 4
Views: 1786

Cashless in tax-advantaged?

In a hypothetical world where somebody keeps separate PPs in each tax treatment (taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-prepaid Roth-style), and does not plan to touch the money in the retirement accounts for decades, is there any disadvantage to going to 3x33% and leaving out cash in those retirement accou...
by Xan
Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:05 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Mathjak Thread of Anti-PP
Replies: 96
Views: 34162

Re: Mathjak Thread of Anti-PP

After a long and protracted argument, MachineGhost withdrew his claim of 25% max drawdown, although he never admitted he had been wrong.
by Xan
Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:55 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Perspective on the current drawdown
Replies: 67
Views: 23295

Re: Perspective on the current drawdown

The extraction costs of any mineral don't matter. If gold mining slows or stops for a while, there's enough gold above ground and being traded around as paper gold to keep traders busy. I believe Craigr checks his HBPP once a year, if nothing is stirring. I think gold is heading to $500 or less but...
by Xan
Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:24 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Mathjak Thread of Anti-PP
Replies: 96
Views: 34162

Re: Mathjak Thread of Anti-PP

There's no requirement to immediately rebalance.  I've "borrowed" money from my cash allocation for one reason or another, and considered my obligation to pay it back to still be "cash" for purposes of my balance.
by Xan
Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:14 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The thought crimes of Donald Trump
Replies: 80
Views: 30436

Re: The thought crimes of Donald Trump

Does the poem have anything to do with shaping people's thoughts towards what we actually did historically for immigration. Did this poem then lead people to false assumptions about who we wanted to actually come into this country? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Colossus "Give me your t...
by Xan
Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:12 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The thought crimes of Donald Trump
Replies: 80
Views: 30436

Re: The thought crimes of Donald Trump

Libertarian666 wrote:getting rid of the welfare state would definitely improve immigration, among its other virtues.
Since that's not going to happen (really, it isn't, not judging either way), the question is what do we do about immigration?
by Xan
Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:28 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Performance impact of holding TLT vs bonds directly?
Replies: 25
Views: 14937

Re: Performance impact of holding TLT vs bonds directly?

Oh, good to know.  I certainly learned something here.
by Xan
Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:37 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Performance impact of holding TLT vs bonds directly?
Replies: 25
Views: 14937

Re: Performance impact of holding TLT vs bonds directly?

TLT doesn't really have spread issues or volatility issues. TLT's average bond duration is something like 19 years.  (Somebody please correct me on this.)  So its volatility is significantly less than a 30 year bond you might buy.  Canonical PP wisdom is to buy them at 30 and sell them at 20 (or is ...
by Xan
Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Jim Webb announces for president
Replies: 17
Views: 7630

Re: Jim Webb announces for president

Having read this I'm having some more qualms.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/James_Webb.htm
by Xan
Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:40 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Jim Webb announces for president
Replies: 17
Views: 7630

Re: Jim Webb announces for president

I'm getting to really, really like Jim Webb.  I don't think I've ever said anything like that about a Democrat.
by Xan
Wed Jul 15, 2015 11:06 am
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Paradox of Thrift
Replies: 38
Views: 16127

Re: Paradox of Thrift

If you're talking about stuffing wads of cash under a mattress, then maybe that's a zero-sum game.  Most saving is in other forms.
by Xan
Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:22 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Early Retirement and Healthcare in the US? Medicaid? Obamacare? Other?
Replies: 73
Views: 19716

Re: Early Retirement and Healthcare in the US? Medicaid? Obamacare? Other?

I look at the subsidized price as the real price, and look at the sticker price as an the inflated tax on "the rich".

I'm still grandfathered into my pre-Obamacare plan, but when that goes away, I expect my health insurance costs to triple, and to get worse coverage in exchange.  >:-(
by Xan
Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:45 am
Forum: Variable Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Physical alternatives to precious metals?
Replies: 20
Views: 11085

Re: Physical alternatives to precious metals?

This kind of thing could be very useful as your kids approach college and you're filling out FAFSA.  IIRC, "collectibles" don't count as assets, only financial assets do.
by Xan
Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:41 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: The Correlated Risk Parity PP
Replies: 148
Views: 46471

Re: The Risk Parity PP

It would be interesting to learn more about demographics of this group to determine what actual "type" of people become PP'ers. I myself am 27 and currently have around 60% of my paycheck going towards savings, and awaiting salary increases and cutting more expenses to raise that value. W...
by Xan
Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:28 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: The Correlated Risk Parity PP
Replies: 148
Views: 46471

Re: The Risk Parity PP

Wow.  Which finger?  Shut me down if I'm prying.