Search found 4298 matches

by Xan
Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:56 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Permanent Portfolio Book Question
Replies: 8
Views: 6166

Re: Permanent Portfolio Book Question

I also disagree with ochotona's sentiment, but I'm not sure I disagree with what he's doing overall. I wouldn't try to time the market like that, myself. That's why I'm here in the PP. But, if you do believe you know what's going to happen next, then what he's proposing is a good way to do it. As lo...
by Xan
Sat Sep 16, 2017 8:42 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Root canals
Replies: 18
Views: 13600

Re: Root canals

Don, you're welcome to not read (and more than welcome to not comment on) threads that don't interest you.
by Xan
Sat Sep 16, 2017 3:07 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Equifax hack
Replies: 57
Views: 29946

Re: Equifax hack

There's nothing inherently insecure about collaboratively-developed software. Equifax could have developed their own everything, I suppose, but it would have been enormously expensive and it's a virtual certainty it would be much, much worse security-wise than anything from the Apache project.
by Xan
Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:19 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Equifax hack
Replies: 57
Views: 29946

Re: Equifax hack

I bet in several years we will look back at this and laugh about how weak and vulnerable the electronic transaction system was. The various financial entities wanted to make it painless for consumers, but that is now backfiring. In the future we will have to have some sort of physical verification....
by Xan
Wed Sep 06, 2017 2:53 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1386590

Re: Figuring Out Religion

On this question I (and I believe I speak for Mountaineer as well) agree with farjean. We start out dead in our sins. We cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. I can no more choose to believe in Christ and receive his salvation than a corpse can choose to start breathing again. As Luther p...
by Xan
Tue Sep 05, 2017 8:53 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Home Affordability Calculations
Replies: 5
Views: 5155

Re: Home Affordability Calculations

And it would virtually ensure that Republicans will never again carry NY, NJ or CA. LOL, when was the last time a R presidential candidate carried any of those states? I don't foresee that ever happening again, regardless. Even with a R governor, NJ and IL always go to the D in the national electio...
by Xan
Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:46 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How Much Tax Should One Avoid?
Replies: 39
Views: 21976

Re: How Much Tax Should One Avoid?

Even if you're planning to (or could potentially need to) withdraw the money early, it could still be a smart move to put money in tax-advantaged accounts. Yes, there's a 10% penalty, but at some point that's worth it for tax-free growth, right? And this would be more true the more trading there is ...
by Xan
Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:16 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Trip to Spain
Replies: 4
Views: 3323

Re: The Trip to Spain

Watching on cable isn't watching for free. Watching via rabbit ears (or equivalent) is free. DVR+rabbit ears is the way to go! Rabbit ears? Didn't those go out when all broadcast signals were converted to HD? I tried an HD antenna and didn't have much luck with it or I would probably go that route....
by Xan
Sat Sep 02, 2017 10:12 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Al Gore & The Iraq War
Replies: 8
Views: 8501

Re: Al Gore & The Iraq War

I have often wondered, if it hadn't been for the Florida ballots or if the Supreme Court had ruled the other way, would we have had September 11? There was that Presidential Daily Brief in early August titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." outlining their plans in what may have been enoug...
by Xan
Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:37 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: The Trip to Spain
Replies: 4
Views: 3323

Re: The Trip to Spain

Watching on cable isn't watching for free. Watching via rabbit ears (or equivalent) is free. DVR+rabbit ears is the way to go!
by Xan
Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:23 pm
Forum: Stocks
Topic: Stock scream room
Replies: 1438
Views: 645900

Re: Stock scream room

The Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) of Houston-Sugar Land-Woodlands is $0.5 trillion, about the same as Sweden or Poland. The GDP of Greece is $0.19 trillion. Houston is home to half of the Fortune 500 companies in Texas. Houston trails only New York City for most names on the list. We are shut do...
by Xan
Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:37 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: How Much Tax Should One Avoid?
Replies: 39
Views: 21976

Re: How Much Tax Should One Avoid?

remember that you are saving taxes at your marginal rate now, but the withdrawals at the other end will be at your *average* tax rate. Aren't traditional IRA (and similar) withdrawals taxed at the marginal rate at the time of withdrawal? It's as though you'd earned that income at the time of withdr...
by Xan
Fri Aug 25, 2017 1:48 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Designated Hitter
Replies: 70
Views: 36665

Re: Designated Hitter

The Astrodome is in a sad situation. It's no longer used for anything. There isn't money for upkeep, so it deteriorates, and I'm not sure whether there's the money or the inclination to tear it down.
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:58 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: A Question for Sophie (An Epidemic of Autism or Plain Old Bad Behavior?)
Replies: 18
Views: 9872

Re: A Question for Sophie (An Epidemic of Autism or Plain Old Bad Behavior?)

I think that's it, drumminj. The described behavior sounds exactly like what happens to perfectly normal children with no discipline applied.
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:04 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Charlottesville
Replies: 122
Views: 74425

Re: Charlottesville

Interesting. I'm not going to say you're wrong. Would you at least, in this scenario, admit that people who did put up such statues are not NECESSARILY baby-murder fans? I would say that it's possible they weren't baby murdering fans. But if they were erecting said statues at precisely the same tim...
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:55 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Charlottesville
Replies: 122
Views: 74425

Re: Charlottesville

Interesting. I'm not going to say you're wrong. Would you at least, in this scenario, admit that people who did put up such statues are not NECESSARILY baby-murder fans?
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:45 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Eclipse
Replies: 25
Views: 13933

Re: Eclipse

WiseOne wrote:I hope everyone got a live look. It's a reminder that there is more in the universe besides our own little set of problems.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. -- Hamlet
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:20 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Charlottesville
Replies: 122
Views: 74425

Re: Charlottesville

Another article, this one from the Atlantic (rated "left center"). Lee is a pivotal figure in American history worthy of study. Neither the man who really existed, nor the fictionalized tragic hero of the Lost Cause, are heroes worthy of a statue in a place of honor. As one Union veteran angrily pu...
by Xan
Mon Aug 21, 2017 3:12 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Eclipse
Replies: 25
Views: 13933

Re: Eclipse

Stayed home and saw about 60% coverage. Pretty neat. A nearby library made an event about it, including craft tables, vendors, etc. It was fun for the kids. And a train even went by! I went to one in 1990 (or so). We went down to Mexico City where it was total. For the actual eclipse we went out to ...
by Xan
Sun Aug 20, 2017 3:16 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Vanguard vote
Replies: 9
Views: 4705

Re: Vanguard vote

Thanks Maddy, for asking this question, and Dualstow for answering it. I saw an email about this but didn't think much of it. Now I'll vote.
by Xan
Fri Aug 18, 2017 2:36 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1386590

Re: Figuring Out Religion

i moved the posts not xan (just so the wrong person isn't blamed...) long text walls of quoting scripture are only relevant to the few readers who see scripture as relevant to anything and everything, i understand they are of interest and relevant to a few so i don't delete them.. if you want to ha...
by Xan
Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:00 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: 9 personal allowances on W-4?
Replies: 10
Views: 7399

Re: 9 personal allowances on W-4?

I'm pretty sure MangoMan is right. I've gone through that penalty formula. If you've paid enough by the January 15 deadline, then it's a no-op. It's a free loan from Uncle Sam. I haven't used it myself: interest rates are low (certainly for instruments that I'd trust for absolutely needing the money...
by Xan
Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:07 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: 9 personal allowances on W-4?
Replies: 10
Views: 7399

Re: 9 personal allowances on W-4?

Don't do any withholding. Estimate your total tax bill for the end of the year, figure out your overall percentage, and then pay that fraction of your income each of the "quarterly" deadlines.
by Xan
Wed Aug 16, 2017 11:05 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Durham
Replies: 19
Views: 12426

Re: Durham

dualstow wrote:
Xan wrote:There's plenty of renaming going on too: streets, schools, parks. All part of the same push.
How do you feel about it?
Sad. Powerless. But then there are heroes like this:
Predominantly Black Dallas Group Forms To Protect Confederate Monuments
by Xan
Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:43 am
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Durham
Replies: 19
Views: 12426

Re: Durham

I see what you mean. The quote may not be appropriate here, like you say. Removing a statue is not the same as renaming it. By the same token, though, saying "I'm bored with statues and I prefer books" seems odd. There's plenty of renaming going on too: streets, schools, parks. All part of the same...