Gyroscopic Investing

Dan Simmons is an amazing writer who writes and wins awards in SF, mystery, fantasy, and horror and he has a website with a forum with some very intelligent and high level discussions in a number of areas.

http://forum.dansimmons.com/

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I've found a lot of good websites to read, but I usually don't like the forums there. For example, kurzweilai.net.
I guess I'm spoiled by the good members & mods here. I do like a lot of bogleheads, though.

But, once in a while I do take a peek at forums that I've got nothing to do with. I read a thread at indus ladies (Indian women) on Jewish husbands. And, once I was at a neo-nazi/ white power forum and guess what they were discussing over there: Downton Abbey. Not kidding.

MangoMan wrote: While I doubt there is any other forum quite like this one, for those days when I am caught up here or just don't feel like reading more MR vs Austrian arguments  what other boards do the people here frequent? I have never been a big fan of Bogleheads, and that is fine for investing topics but not much else. I am looking for intelligent, thought provoking places such as here, on any non-obscure topics. Any suggestions?

What are your other interests?

dualstow wrote: I read a thread at indus ladies (Indian women) on Jewish husbands.

Please post link.  I'm dying to read that one.  Should be good for some laughs.

MangoMan wrote:

Libertarian666 wrote:

MangoMan wrote: While I doubt there is any other forum quite like this one, for those days when I am caught up here or just don't feel like reading more MR vs Austrian arguments  what other boards do the people here frequent? I have never been a big fan of Bogleheads, and that is fine for investing topics but not much else. I am looking for intelligent, thought provoking places such as here, on any non-obscure topics. Any suggestions?

What are your other interests?

Investing, of course. Also politics, current events, economics, family, dogs, medicine...

Well, if you're not a liberal, you might like "chateau heartiste". Google it; I don't want to log on to it from work.

Libertarian666 wrote:

MangoMan wrote:

Libertarian666 wrote: What are your other interests?

Investing, of course. Also politics, current events, economics, family, dogs, medicine...

Well, if you're not a liberal, you might like "chateau heartiste". Google it; I don't want to log on to it from work.

For anyone who has ever been frustrated by women, that's a good one.

MangoMan wrote: Thanks for the suggestions. The comments on the posts at CH are better than the posts themselves!

Yes, that is often the case.

I like mrmoneymustache, although that's more of a personal finance/early retirement forum

MangoMan wrote:

Libertarian666 wrote:

MangoMan wrote: Thanks for the suggestions. The comments on the posts at CH are better than the posts themselves!

Yes, that is often the case.

I take that back. Too many of the commenters are racists, mysogynists, or general haters. I've quickly become disgusted and lost interest.

Any other suggestions? C'mon, I know that many of you guys participate in other discussion forums...

Yes, there are those, but there are also a lot of very funny and insightful comments.

thehousingbubbleblog.com has a lot of good information about, well, the housing bubble. Which apparently is back in full swing!

MangoMan wrote: thanks, techno

Glad to help.

I did just find this site:

http://www.longecity.org/forum/

It is a forum for Advocacy and Research for Unlimited Lifespans. Seems to hold my interest.

Reub wrote: I did just find this site:

http://www.longecity.org/forum/

It is a forum for Advocacy and Research for Unlimited Lifespans. Seems to hold my interest.

Reub,

1. examine.com is great resource on supps.

2.  If you want that kind of supp info, read machine ghosts old posts here. 

The rest of the site (aside from supplements) probably is fine for....the unlimited lifespan stuff. 

For any INTJ personality types, which IIRC many on this board fall into that category, this website is pretty solid...

http://intjforum.com/

I'm also fascinated currently with reading about near death experiences (NDE's) at

http://www.nderf.org/NDERF/NDE_Archives/NDERF_NDEs.htm

clacy wrote: For any INTJ personality types, which IIRC many on this board fall into that category, this website is pretty solid...

http://intjforum.com/

Thanks for sharing this.  It made me wonder what my type is, and after taking a couple of online tests (which I realize are probably not the most accurate) I appear to be ISTJ.

flyingpylon wrote:

clacy wrote: For any INTJ personality types, which IIRC many on this board fall into that category, this website is pretty solid...

http://intjforum.com/

Thanks for sharing this.  It made me wonder what my type is, and after taking a couple of online tests (which I realize are probably not the most accurate) I appear to be ISTJ.

To confirm, does this description sound like it fits you?
http://keirsey.com/4temps/inspector.asp

Pointedstick wrote: To confirm, does this description sound like it fits you?
http://keirsey.com/4temps/inspector.asp

Generally, yes.  I've found some other descriptions online that go into a little more detail that fit very well.  Of course, in reality there can be lots of variables that don't allow personalities to fit neatly into little boxes.

Benko wrote:

Reub wrote: I did just find this site:

http://www.longecity.org/forum/

It is a forum for Advocacy and Research for Unlimited Lifespans. Seems to hold my interest.

Reub,

1. examine.com is great resource on supps.

2.  If you want that kind of supp info, read machine ghosts old posts here. 

The rest of the site (aside from supplements) probably is fine for....the unlimited lifespan stuff.

Thank you, Benko! I will definitely check it out. I recently had my blood work checked by my family doctor (a cardiologist) and my Homocysteine and Crp came back somewhat elevated, markers for vascular and heart disease. My overall cholesterol was 205, triglycerides 60, HDL 58, LDL about 130, fasting blood sugar of 105. She has put me on a megadose of B vitamins, namely folic acid, B12, and B6 and I alternate this with Thorne's Methyl Guard Plus, which may be better:

http://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research-M ... guard+plus

I take one pill every second day of Thorne Methyl Guard Plus, alternating days with the doctor's mega-B vitamin pill. It has the methylized version of folic acid (folate) which may be better for me and also contains Riboflavin, and TMG which also seem beneficial in reducing homocysteine:

https://www.lef.org/protocols/heart_cir ... ion_01.htm

My cardiologist wants me on Red Yeast Rice (a statin) as a preventative but I have decided to incorporate Linus Pauling's Vitamin C/lysine protocol for preventing/reversing heart disease. Pauling's protocol has me taking 6000 mgs of Vitamin C and 3000 mgs of lysine interspersed over the day so as to provide vascular healing and to also to bind Lp-a, the portion of cholesterol which is the primary ingredient in vascular plaque:

http://vitamincfoundation.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=11

I also have begun taking 500mgs of Magnesium and 25 mgs of Zinc daily and have increased my fish oil from 2000 to 4000 mgs.

I am perfectly healthy, 57 years old, and exercise about 6 days a week, alternating between slow cardio running, weight bearing, and high intensity activities.

I sure do miss MG's advice!

Reub wrote:I sure do miss MG's advice!

I do too!

MG was closely following the Perfect Health Diet the last time I chatted with him. It has a good track record for curing many ailments and diseases. I try to follow it as well on most days.

For what it's worth, the mainstream advice you're getting isn't necessarily bad, but there may be some easier ways to clean up your diet and health. So, here are two good articles that you may find useful...

PHD: What Causes High LDL on Low-Carb Paleo?

PHD: How to Raise HDL

Jaminet's fixes are pretty easy and might be worth incorporating into your plan. Another good general route is Chris Kresser's 9 Steps to Perfect Health series.

Keep in mind that your mainstream doctor/cardiologist — as nice as he may be — is simply treating the symptom with the easiest fix based on the most basic mainstream hypothesis and not really attempting to look into the underlying causes. Many doctors now believe that elevated Cholesterol is part of a healing process to vascular injury, so "lowering" it with mega doses of vitamins may in fact be counterproductive when there is likely an underlying cause to the vascular injuries.

A "functional medicine" doctor might be worth visiting if you want to actually figure out what the underlying cause is (infection, thyroid issue, iodine deficiency, diet, etc).

Good luck!

Thank you, Gumby! I'm hoping that an elevated homocysteine level might actually be caused by a deficiency of B-vitamins, in which case my doctor would be treating the cause and not just the symptom.

I just read one of your links and will add a tablespoon of coconut oil to my regimen to raise my HDL. Any suggestions on where to get the coconut oil? I will also be adding full fat Greek yogurt as dairy fat seems to lower diabetes risk and CRP levels.

Reub wrote: Thank you, Gumby! I'm hoping that an elevated homocysteine level might actually be caused by a deficiency of B-vitamins, in which case my doctor would be treating the cause and not just the symptom.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the role of methylation as the body's way of detoxifying homocysteine. Problem is that a lot of people (not necessarily you) have genetic (MTHFR) defects that make it difficult for their bodies to synthesize folic acid.

Methylfolates are, of course, more bioavailable, but some people with MTHFR defects can react really badly to too many methyl donors if they aren't careful. Once methylation kicks in, it can either kick your ass if your body rapidly detoxifies or it can rapidly deplete you of potassium and trigger panic attacks and anxiety (it's not even entirely known which event causes the reaction in these people). If you start to experience these symptoms, your doctor is probably way over his head. If not, then you are probably on the right track.

If you do have bad reactions, you may want to find a doctor that specializes in methylation. For example, here are a few:

http://www.mthfrease.com/mthfr/2013/02/10/mthfr-docs/

Functional doctors that specialize in autism and Lyme also tend to have some expertise with methylation — as it is believed that those diseases may be improved with proper methylation support.

But, of course, it's entirely possible that you could go through all that trouble and discover that you don't have a major methylation issue (which should show up on a methylation panel test) and completely miss the underlying cause of the vascular injuries, whatever they may be.

That's my basic point. I'm sure you're in very good hands, but just keep in mind that your doctor thinks it's a lack of B vitamins via methylation. My guess is he never bothered to test for methylation issues or B vitamin deficiencies to confirm that suspicion. Few doctors even know how to read a methylation panel test and most just don't have the time to look into these complex issues (too many patients).

That's why I personally prefer to just find a "functional" doctor who knows how to look for the underlying issue — like a detective would — rather than just telling you to buy a bottle of whatever sounds right.

"Crp came back somewhat elevated"

That is not good.

Cherries are a very easy thing to add to one's diet that decreases inflammation.  I add 1/2 cup thawed frozed cherries to my morning oatmeal (along with coconut oil, some gogi berries and truvia).

There are other ways to decrease inflammation if fish oil doesn't bring it down to normal.

No one talks about it, but there was a study which puts huge doubts into the homocysteine issue.  I'm not certain of this, but I am certain that I would bring your CRP down to normal.

Benko wrote:There are other ways to decrease inflammation if fish oil doesn't bring it down to normal.

Right. And, Reub, while that's great advice for combating inflammation over the short term, just try to keep in mind that there may be some underlying cause that causing the inflammation in the first place that may have nothing to do with homocysteine.

I'm not saying this is you, but as an example, most Americans likely receive most of their inflammation from consuming high levels of refined sugar and Omega-6 PUFA (usually from vegetable/nut oils) every day. So, for those people, it wouldn't do much good to consume lots of anti-homocysteine vitamins and fish oil if their inflammation was still being caused by their continued high PUFA and sugar consumption. In their case, reducing refined sugar and PUFA would be the first course of action, followed by anti-inflammatory therapeutic interventions.

Reub wrote:I just read one of your links and will add a tablespoon of coconut oil to my regimen to raise my HDL. Any suggestions on where to get the coconut oil?

I would recommend cooking with extra virgin coconut oil, whenever possible. Olive oil is better when used cold — for topping your salads or finished steaks — as it's not as good for high heat. (Grass fed) butter is perfectly fine for low heat cooking. And, of course, avoid all vegetable/seed oils and hydrogenated oils.

Here is the best resource I've found for picking a high quality coconut oil:

http://www.evolvingwellness.com/essay/h ... rst-brands