Gyroscopic Investing

Mark Leavy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:00 am

Libertarian666 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2020 8:08 am

Mark Leavy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2020 7:03 am

MangoMan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 27, 2020 7:00 am

Mark Leavy wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:44 pm It still kept wailing - even fully removed. So I popped it in the microwave for a few seconds. That silenced it. All good now. Everything reassembled.

Seriously? And if so, it still worked after that?

Fried the electronics in about 2 seconds. And no, it will never work again. But also, no visible signs of sabotage.
I'm not a big fan of fire alarms. 100% false positive for my entire life.

It is well known that the majority of fire alarms are false alarms.
It is also well known that the best way to prevent false alarms is not to have a fire alarm at all.

In fact, we can extend the same reasoning to any unlikely event.
What are the chances of dying before age 60? Very low.
Thus, life insurance for younger people is a waste of money.
And of course it's too expensive after age 60.
So why buy it at all?

Hmm, maybe there's something this analysis overlooks...

I think you have correctly described the Mark Leavy filter on reality.
I am also not a big fan of any form of insurance.

Virtually all forms of insurance have a negative expected return, because the insurers have to have a reason to take the risk.
Which is why it is foolish to insure against events whose costs you can absorb without too much difficulty. Why pay someone else to take a risk that you can afford yourself?
But there are risks for which you need a risk pool, e.g., outliving your savings.
In that situation, you can optimize your spending by buying an annuity.
Of course, if you have plenty of money to spend even if you live a very long time, especially if you care about leaving a legacy, then there's no reason to buy an annuity.

Smoke alarms and car alarms, the bane of my existence.

I’ll have to remember the microwave trick.

Microwaving a blaring smoke alarm to silence it seems like overkill when you can just pop out the battery instead.

Tortoise wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:03 pm Microwaving a blaring smoke alarm to silence it seems like overkill when you can just pop out the battery instead.

Where's the fun in that? Mine are hardwired, so the batteries are just a backup. Of course they beep-nag me for fresh batteries. Still, if Mark's were disconnected and beeping..it's one of the mysteries of the universe. There's a button you can press on many models to silence them for a little while.

dualstow wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:00 pm

Tortoise wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:03 pm Microwaving a blaring smoke alarm to silence it seems like overkill when you can just pop out the battery instead.

Where's the fun in that? Mine are hardwired, so the batteries are just a backup. Of course they beep-nag me for fresh batteries. Still, if Mark's were disconnected and beeping..it's one of the mysteries of the universe. There's a button you can press on many models to silence them for a little while.

The hardwired ones often have battery backups like yours, so if you disconnect the wires and they continue to beep, it's because of the battery. If you remove the battery, the beeping stops.

Do you guys really think that was something that didn't occur to Mark?

I wouldn't be surprised if this is a "safety" innovation in smoke detectors: a small, rechargable (powered from the mains) battery that can't (easily) be removed. Just so that it won't let you forget that it doesn't have power.

Mark is a very smart guy, so I agree it probably occurred to him. My guess (correct me if I’m wrong, Mark) is that he was half-asleep while trying to deal with the blaring alarm, so he opted for the fastest solution — the microwave — to just make it stop ASAP.

Tortoise wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:31 pm Mark is a very smart guy, so I agree it probably occurred to him. My guess (correct me if I’m wrong, Mark) is that he was half-asleep while trying to deal with the blaring alarm, so he opted for the fastest solution — the microwave — to just make it stop ASAP.

The backup battery was under a screw secured cover. And yes, I was still getting my bearings from being woken up. My first thought was "Hulk Smash", but then I wrapped it in a towel to muffle it. It was still fairly loud, so I looked for something to stuff the towel burrito into and noticed the microwave. That muffled it even more and I paused for a second. And then the devil made me push the start button.

many new alarms have a ten year non replaceable battery, the whole thing gets replaced when it starts to beep, so nuking it only keeps it from beeping itself to death in the dumpster.. (in addition to preservation of sanity)

Xan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:04 pm ...

I wouldn't be surprised if this is a "safety" innovation in smoke detectors: a small, rechargable (powered from the mains) battery that can't (easily) be removed. Just so that it won't let you forget that it doesn't have power.

Whatever you do, don’t try to remove that small battery. That’s where the real alarm is hiding.
Microwave for safety.

I just ate a full-sized mooncake all to myself, and now it feels like I have a brick in my stomach.

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 4:55 pm I just ate a full-sized mooncake all to myself, and now it feels like I have a brick in my stomach.

That’s pretty much what it is. Had 3 the other night. The small size. Nutritional info says 100 calories. I don’t think so. Maybe they left a zero off.

dualstow wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:31 pm

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 4:55 pm I just ate a full-sized mooncake all to myself, and now it feels like I have a brick in my stomach.

That’s pretty much what it is. Had 3 the other night. The small size. Nutritional info says 100 calories. I don’t think so. Maybe they left a zero off.

It really hit the spot. I'm treating myself to, well, treats since coming back from my fiasco. Definitely helps.

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:16 am

dualstow wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:31 pm

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 4:55 pm I just ate a full-sized mooncake all to myself, and now it feels like I have a brick in my stomach.

That’s pretty much what it is. Had 3 the other night. The small size. Nutritional info says 100 calories. I don’t think so. Maybe they left a zero off.

It really hit the spot. I'm treating myself to, well, treats since coming back from my fiasco. Definitely helps.

Therapeutic eating?

Vinny

vnatale wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:31 am
Therapeutic eating?

Vinny

Very therapeutic. I'm also treating myself to fruit snacks. It's like 3rd grade all over again!

Mesa Verde is a just a fictional analog of Wells Fargo.

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:24 pm Mesa Verde is a just a fictional analog of Wells Fargo.

Don't understand that. But Mesa Verde is a local restaurant near me. And, they sponsored by softball team for several years.

Vinny

vnatale wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:30 pm

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:24 pm Mesa Verde is a just a fictional analog of Wells Fargo.

Don't understand that. But Mesa Verde is a local restaurant near me. And, they sponsored by softball team for several years.

Vinny

Hehe Mesa Verde is the name of the bank that is featured in Better Call Saul.

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:41 pm

vnatale wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:30 pm

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 11:24 pm Mesa Verde is a just a fictional analog of Wells Fargo.

Don't understand that. But Mesa Verde is a local restaurant near me. And, they sponsored by softball team for several years.

Vinny

Hehe Mesa Verde is the name of the bank that is featured in Better Call Saul.

Kim's bank! Forgot that!

Vinny

One very upset economist

This 2080 projection is based off VERY OPTIMISTIC assumptions & this assumes that Australia can get a responsible govt for 50 years!
This is a FANTASY!
Australia will NEVER RECOVER!
AUSTRALIA DIED ON 6 OCTOBER 2020!
IT’S OVER!
https://www.news.com.au/…/…/15595c7df64 ... a01ff18fc4
Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison have saddled Australia with a century of debt.

NEWS.COM.AU
Australia’s national debt won’t be paid off until 2080
Josh Frydenberg and Scott Morrison have saddled Australia with a century of debt.

https://www.facebook.com/adamseconomics ... _tn__=kC-R

Tired of watching the US election campaign?
Get your popcorn and watch The Australian Political Circus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbgagcr ... e=youtu.be

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/ ... ng/5071412

How are you guys all doing today?

Smith1776 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 6:29 am How are you guys all doing today?

Peachy. You?