| Author |
Message |
Topic: Oasis of the Seas - the new Titanic? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 30
Views: 1168
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Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:36 pm Subject: Oasis of the Seas - the new Titanic? |
"Starting in May, it will also sail to the Western Caribbean, including Labadee, Haiti and Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico."
Haiti? I suppose they are building a fake HaitiWorld for the ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:16 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
In the same post I quote Fama about those with talent beating the market.
An idea which he later rejected.
Do you have any evidence for this statement? I've never seen him reject that idea.
http:/ ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:59 am Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
| Bleeding was once a common treatment for ailments. So was eating mercury. Based on available information at the time, these remedies were probably chosen because their alternatives were believed to ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:31 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
| I also like illiquidity as an explanation of why small stocks have outperformed, but on value stocks outperforming I'm more inclined to think it's some combination of naivete among the non-pros (i.e., ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:44 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Interesting that the Wikipedia entry presents not only Shiller's work on cross-temporal valuation (in the form of a graph) but also the "value premium" as "problems" for EMH:
... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:31 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
| If everyone were flipping coins, nearly half would beat the average. But the number is people who have beaten the market over their investment lifetime is not just the number you would expect to do ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:28 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex, what time period are you talking about when you say "the original assumption"?
In this post http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45622 I give a quote from the late 1800s ... |
Topic: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 92
Views: 2286
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:38 pm Subject: EMH "failed spectacularly", is a tautology |
We've been this road so many times before.
Yes, EMH is untestable. But that completely misses the point. EMH is just one of the possible suggestions, albeit the most plausible, for something that ... |
Topic: are any of you bogleheads on twitter? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 34
Views: 858
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:53 pm Subject: are any of you bogleheads on twitter? |
http://www.despair.com/somevedi.html
The model is perfect.
http://site.despair.com/images/dw/m/socialmedia.jpg |
Topic: What is Fair Pay for Executives? An engineering approach... |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 4
Views: 495
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Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:22 pm Subject: What is Fair Pay for Executives? An engineering approach... |
CEO compensation is on the list of unacceptable topics.
Unless it's investing related. I'd like to see someone comes up with a ETF that excludes companies with overpaid execs. |
Topic: Get rich quick? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 29
Views: 1979
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Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:40 am Subject: Get rich quick? |
| forex trading - such as http://fxtrade.oanda.com/forex_trading/fxtrade/ - allows the extremely large amounts of leverage you will need to get rich quick. Of course, high leverage means very little m ... |
Topic: Cost of Indexing? R2000 Performance on Reconstitution Day |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 10
Views: 551
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:09 pm Subject: Cost of Indexing? R2000 Performance on Reconstitution Day |
| This is a well-known and longstanding problem with funds based on the Russell small cap indexes. Well it wasn't a problem when the indexes were introduced in 1984 because there were no small cap inde ... |
Topic: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 21
Views: 675
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:15 pm Subject: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
Is there anything we can do on our own (and is safe) so that we start around 7:0 AM and are back at the airport by 11:00 or so, just to give us some time to go through the security and everything.
Yo ... |
Topic: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 21
Views: 675
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:51 pm Subject: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
| For a very short visit, I agree with DaveH. The Van Gogh museum is small and focused enough that you can spend an hour or two and not feel like you've missed everything. I'd also recommend a [url=ht ... |
Topic: Adrian takes off |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 17
Views: 1838
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:28 pm Subject: Adrian takes off |
Hey, no personal attacks.
I'm only leaving this up because that's a really cool picture. |
Topic: Motley Fool interview |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 36
Views: 2264
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:09 pm Subject: Motley Fool interview |
That was a great interview. And it had some surprises - I didn't know that you are a reformed newsletter writer  |
Topic: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 21
Views: 675
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:00 pm Subject: Need advice on Amsterdam half-day tour |
see http://www.epinions.com/review/Holland_Tours_Schiphol_epi/content_482275069572
Here's the company mentioned in the review: http://www.hollandtoursschiphol.com/
Here's another, I have no idea ... |
Topic: Gold |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 31
Views: 1954
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Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:50 pm Subject: Gold |
| It's a terrible idea. The intrinsic value of gold - what it would be worth based on production costs if valued solely for its industrial and cosmetic uses - is in the $200 - $300/oz range. All of the ... |
Topic: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 147
Views: 13855
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:21 pm Subject: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
There's always the chance that Larry will return. He also took a lengthy hiatus, for much the same reasons, when we were at Morningstar.
However I have to see his departure as a failure on my part ... |
Topic: Knee arthroscopy anyone? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 6
Views: 401
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:56 am Subject: Knee arthroscopy anyone? |
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20294
Questions on specific medical conditions are beyond the scope of the forum. If you are looking for medical information online, I'd like to sugge ... |
Topic: Bogleheads has more Posts than M* VG Forums |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 39
Views: 1928
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Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:54 am Subject: Bogleheads has more Posts than M* VG Forums |
Did the M* VG Forums have off-topic discussions? What do the figures look like if we took out the lounge section?
We did have OT consumer discussions on M*, also discussions on local chapter ... |
Topic: Investment Fund. Firm Structure |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 6
Views: 289
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Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:36 am Subject: Investment Fund. Firm Structure |
| I removed this post temporarily because it does look suspicious, but I've exchanged messages with the OP and it appears his question is legitimate. So let's work off the assumption that it is. The m ... |
Topic: In Rome for two days |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 18
Views: 692
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:51 pm Subject: In Rome for two days |
| Pantheon, St. Peters, Galleria Borghese (and the surrounding gardens). Other than that, spend your time walking and eating. The walking part should take you to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the ... |
Topic: Access to online technical journals |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 12
Views: 638
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:22 pm Subject: Access to online technical journals |
More options -
Check with the alumni office of your university (if applicable). Alumni membership at some level often gives you library rights.
Universities often grant some sort of temporary p ... |
Topic: 1001 days and counting [forum surpasses m* in total posts] |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 5
Views: 354
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:58 pm Subject: 1001 days and counting [forum surpasses m* in total posts] |
| Congrats to Phoenix who got the ball rolling and everyone who has contributed since. |
Topic: Predict the 10's digit of today's closing Dow |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 14
Views: 808
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:42 pm Subject: Predict the 10's digit of today's closing Dow |
| My vote made it exactly 1 each for 0-6. Which is pretty cool. |
Topic: Going For Another Test Drive |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 37
Views: 2000
|
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing) Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 11:58 am Subject: Going For Another Test Drive |
If you could get $3000 by driving a couple hundred miles, would you do it? That's at least what you are prepared to overpay for this used car just so you can buy it from your local dealer.
Send an ... |
Topic: Classical music suggestions |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 64
Views: 2212
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:25 am Subject: Classical music suggestions |
| Probably my most played CD is The standard by which all else is judged! As a classical guitarist for over 25 years, I can assure you this is the definitive classical guitar recording of the 19th sic, ... |
Topic: My adviser thinks I should not be in stocks at all |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 44
Views: 4295
|
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:20 pm Subject: My adviser thinks I should not be in stocks at all |
| I also agree with the responses above that it makes no sense for you to hold a mortgage unless your savings are getting over the mortgage's 4.875% (or 3.5% if your non-mortgage deductions exceed the s ... |
Topic: My adviser thinks I should not be in stocks at all |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 44
Views: 4295
|
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:01 pm Subject: My adviser thinks I should not be in stocks at all |
| You don't need stocks since it will take over 40 years for your savings to run out. But you don't need to avoid them either, and I can't see why an advisor would counsel you to give up any chance at ... |
Topic: In theory, why wouldn't it be best to rebalance every day? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 53
Views: 2694
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:42 pm Subject: In theory, why wouldn't it be best to rebalance every day? |
Another Bernstein article - http://www.efficientfrontier.com/ef/100/rebal100.htm
So, what can we conclude from all this?
- Monthly rebalancing is too frequent.
- There are small rewards to i ... |
Topic: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 147
Views: 13855
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:04 pm Subject: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
...It's just that sometimes we will make the mistake of crossing that sensitive line and maybe someone sensitive may post a complaint to the moderators. ...
One more warning and I will b ... |
Topic: TIAA Real Estate Account |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 68
Views: 5176
|
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:43 pm Subject: TIAA Real Estate Account |
Everyone is talking about cap rate, but unless I've missed it, no one has reported TREA's current cap rate.
Does the following give its current cap rate? I multiply net investment income for the ... |
Topic: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 147
Views: 13855
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:15 am Subject: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
| No personal attacks please. |
Topic: Thanks Broncos (from a Bears fan) |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 95
Views: 4922
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:28 am Subject: Thanks Broncos (from a Bears fan) |
| Hey, even if Cutler is Rex Grossman II, I'm still happy to see the back of Orton. Nothing is worse than knowing that your offense has no chance of making up a 14 point deficit with less than 45 minute ... |
Topic: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 147
Views: 13855
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:08 pm Subject: Is Larry Swedroe "AWOL" ? Not seen since Oct 4 ! |
Neither were banned. I expect Valuethinker will be back in another week or so. I have no idea about Larry.
PiperWarrior just burned out. It's extremely tough to do what he was doing and keep up ... |
Topic: What fixed nominal rate would make you give up investing? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 56
Views: 2696
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:20 pm Subject: What fixed nominal rate would make you give up investing? |
Imagine a genie appears and grants you (and you alone) the guaranteed fixed account option.
I wouldn't take the offer. If literature tells us anything, it's that you can't trust a genie. You'll go, ... |
Topic: What fixed nominal rate would make you give up investing? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 56
Views: 2696
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 5:05 pm Subject: What fixed nominal rate would make you give up investing? |
| Interesting responses. It's the requirement to give up all other types of investing that makes it so hard. Without that, the answer has to be pretty close to the current rate of 30-year treasuries.
... |
Topic: You on Facebook? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 95
Views: 8080
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:41 pm Subject: You on Facebook? |
| I'm on it and easy to find since I use my real name both here and there. But I don't use it except as a way for people to get in touch with me if they don't have my e-mail address. And even that's p ... |
Topic: Modern Portfolio Theory tested with recent market behavior |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 59
Views: 3561
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:23 pm Subject: Modern Portfolio Theory tested with recent market behavior |
MPT says prices are always right at any current time.
MPT says no such thing.
First... The "prices are always right" shibboleth is an, often deliberate, misstating of the Efficient Ma ... |
Topic: Sell Shares for New Car? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 11
Views: 737
|
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:59 pm Subject: Sell Shares for New Car? |
I think I probably just need to buy a less expensive car...
Don't take loans for depreciating assets (i.e., anything other than education and a house). You said that you got a generous offer from th ... |
Topic: Gold |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 73
Views: 3447
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:45 pm Subject: Gold |
| You asked for it, you got it. |
Topic: Modern Portfolio Theory tested with recent market behavior |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 59
Views: 3561
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:34 pm Subject: Modern Portfolio Theory tested with recent market behavior |
| MPT says prices are always right at any current time. I don't think anyone believes that any more. Only an idot could believe that the prices for houses in 2006 were right or an accurate measure of ... |
Topic: Gold |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 73
Views: 3447
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:30 pm Subject: Gold |
It does not take hyper-inflation or a Mad Max world for gold to rise in value, only an uncertain world. Just look at some of the trends of the past ten years.
• Upside down demographic pyramid ... |
Topic: What to do with active management? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 22
Views: 1415
|
Forum: Investing - Help with Personal Investments Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:07 pm Subject: Re: What to do with active management? |
| you want put 10% and don't put any more into it. But when rebalancing, should you take money out of the active portfolio? If not, then suppose you continually do well; then at what % would you think ... |
Topic: Problem Replying |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 8
Views: 427
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:18 pm Subject: Problem Replying |
| I moved your post to the appropriate forum. |
Topic: Finding Physicians Who Accept Medicare? |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 23
Views: 2392
|
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing) Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:59 pm Subject: Finding Physicians Who Accept Medicare? |
| I have deleted several posts that had nothing to do with the original question and were in violation of the forum's ban on political and/or economic policy posts. |
Topic: Bear Stearns hedge fund managers acquitted |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 9
Views: 831
|
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:46 pm Subject: Bear Stearns hedge fund managers acquitted |
Avoiding issues like this is yet another argument for the use of index funds.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/business/11bear.html?hp#
Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers were found not ... |
Topic: Thanks Broncos (from a Bears fan) |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 95
Views: 4922
|
Forum: Lounge - Consumer, Leisure, and General Interest Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:06 pm Subject: Re: Thanks Broncos (from a Bears fan) |
| Alex, I am a Packer fan. It is not the Quarterback. It is the decisions of management. As dumb as the Bears management team of Jerry DiAngelo and Lovie Smith is they cannot match the incompetency of t ... |
Topic: The Future of the Wiki |
Alex Frakt
Replies: 71
Views: 4019
|
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:54 pm Subject: The Future of the Wiki |
| It's not wikipedia. It's a reference section and companion to this forum that uses wiki software for ease of editing and collaboration. It does espouse a certain [url=http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/B ... |
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