Search found 289 matches

by metabasalt
Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:45 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A Gem: "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need"
Replies: 31
Views: 7498

Re: A Gem: "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need"

1999 edition on my bookshelf, I think the first investment book I ever read. I feel lucky that it was the first. In retrospect I realize that there are some other books that might have been better, e.g. Common Sense on Mutual Funds, but at that time something as simple as this was probably the best I could chosen.
by metabasalt
Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:58 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: A Tale of Two Fund Giants
Replies: 8
Views: 1330

Re: A Tale of Two Fund Giants

I have to say that is one of the worst articles I've read recently. Not what it said, but how it was written and edited. At first you think that Vanguard has gotten a lot of new money and customers. And it has. But then the article says it's through ETFs and index funds. And then it never again mentions index funds. From what I can tell it's suggesting that Vanguard is gaining money and customers because it's cheapest way to go after the flavor of the day sectors via Vanguard ETFs. Then before you're able to digest these confusing statements it says that investors are pouring into bonds. So what are they really doing? Going to Vanguard for index funds, for ETFs in sectors that seem like a good idea that changes day by day('frequent adjustme...
by metabasalt
Sat Mar 31, 2012 8:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vegetable Gardening
Replies: 99
Views: 13202

Re: Vegetable Gardening

We've had eight raised beds at our house since we moved in 20 years ago. In fact I dug up the lawn and put them in long before we'd unpacked most of our boxes. I read many of the books mentioned here in getting started including Square Foot Gardening and many books from Rodale about organic gardening. When I first started gardening I read that it really wasn't economical. My guess is that is not true, especially if you garden organically and compare it to the cost of buying organic vegetables. For instance I just bought a pack of 8 or so heirloom lettuces after great success with them last year. We probably got 50-100 heads of lettuces. For organic lettuce in my local stores I'd pay at least $2 a head. So that's $100-200 vs. the $18 the pac...
by metabasalt
Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How Fortunate are You?
Replies: 27
Views: 3543

Re: How Fortunate are You?

I wonder if the fact that a person can even realize that they are fortunate might not indicate part of why they are fortunate, that is there's enough humility and self-consciousness to look on their life and see that they were not responsible themselves for all the good that has happened to them. Of course this may just come with age. I feel fortunate in whole but particularly in terms of finance. When I was about 45-50, after a life of never saving at all, I started paying attention to retirement and realized that I and my wife had next to nothing saved. So my foolhardy thought was that I needed to invest in the riskiest 401k mutual funds available. That is where I'm fortunate. It turned out well. After that, partially due to Vanguard, I r...
by metabasalt
Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:43 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Buying a Home: Was it a Good or Bad Decision for You? [Poll]
Replies: 19
Views: 2019

Re: Buying a Home: Was it a Good or Bad Decision for You? [P

It was definitely a good decision and I don't have any problems at all with the question. Why was it good? Because we've never had any second-thoughts or reservations about it. But my answer is not primarily financial. We bought our first house about 20 years ago when we were both in our early 40s. Previous to that I'm not sure if any house would have been a good idea. Neither of us, living separately or together, liked to be tied down. So probably rental was best for us. But since we've moved in we've enjoyed the things that you often don't get with rentals, especially land that you can do with what you will. Since we both garden and are interested in wildlife this has been great. We're not great DIYers. So that never really entered in to ...
by metabasalt
Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:48 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Meaning behind your username
Replies: 48
Views: 3243

Re: Meaning behind your username

Metabasalt is a geologic term. I'm definitely not a geologist. But about 10 years ago I became interested and read, and reread, 'Annals of the Former World' by John McPhee, 'Earth: An Intimite History' by Richard Fortey and then numerous other popular works on geology. In doing so I came across a melodious, well as melodious as you seem to get in geology, phrase that included 'metabasalt.'

Since I prefer to keep my usernames very loosely connected to me for security reasons I'll often use some variation on phrases that strike me as a username. Thus 'metabasalt'.
by metabasalt
Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Did you ever regret your career choice
Replies: 54
Views: 6806

Re: Did you ever regret your career choice

My only real career began when I retired. Everything else I did because I knew I couldn't make a living in what I wanted, the arts, though I did try for a number of years and have an extensive education in it.

So I guess I'd rephrase it as 'Did I ever reget my job choices?' And all in all I'd say no. After the fact I realized I might have squandered time at some jobs that were dead end. But they were never that important to me, just something to pay the bills while I got on with my life.

And some of the non-careers were actually quite good. I made good money, at least good in my view, and I enjoyed the work.
by metabasalt
Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Re: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/201

Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius by Sylvia Nasar, Firewall by Henning Mankell, and finally The Black Swan by Nicolas Nassim Taleb, all very enjoyable books.
by metabasalt
Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:14 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Where is sscritic?
Replies: 40
Views: 5687

Re: Where is sscritic?

When I first joined a few years ago sscritic was extremely helpful. Hope he comes back. I missed the whole controversy but I know what I know: he was extremely helpful to me.
by metabasalt
Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Re: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/201

'The Age of Greed: The Triumph of Finance and the Decline of America, 1970 to the Present' by Jeff Madrick. I'm only 50 pages into it but love it so far. Events of the last five years have convinced me that I need to read more about the recent crash, bubbles, panics, economics in general, etc. So I've read a lot in that vein and have largely enjoyed it(somewhat perverse I know).

In this book the brief chapter on Milton Friedman was for me worth the price of admission.
by metabasalt
Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:33 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What was your very first job
Replies: 103
Views: 7850

Re: What was your very first job

My first proper job with taxes etc. was in a church credit union as a teller. I can't have been much older than 12 I'd guess. I don't really remember much about it, except the feeling of terror when a customer reported to my boss that I'd made an a mistake in my math. I'm sure a mistake of 10 cents would have seemed as momentous to me as one of 10 thousand dollars at that age.

Needless to say I never pursued that career.............
by metabasalt
Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Re: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/201

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. I recall liking "The Corrections" many years ago (before Oprah discovered it) but I'm not so sure I like "Freedom" but I'll keep going... I'm afraid I just don't 'get' Jonathan Franzen. I've listened to the first few minutes of "Freedom" as an audiotape at least five times and couldn't convince myself to buy the tape. Then a few weeks ago I decided to give the book a try. I struggled through 50 pages or so and have not picked it up since. Last night I was looking for something new to read and decided I'd rather pick up another book I'd put down a month or more ago, 'The Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau" by Honore de Balzac. I used to love Balzac but this one is very slow readi...
by metabasalt
Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Can someone explain this "work of art"?
Replies: 36
Views: 3649

Re: Can someone explain this "work of art"?

You're not looking at art. You're looking at an object of monetary speculation. Once this occurred, about 15-20 years ago, there has been almost no correlation between price and quality, especially regarding contemporary art. I can't prove any of this, but having been an artist for the last 40+ years, I can certainly say that there are some astronomical prices and that I cannot see that they are related to quality. The argument of the speculators is that I, or anyone else who doesn't appreciate it, just doesn't get it. But I think it's a bit more complicated. I was just reading the other day about how hedge funds would buy the work of one artist at a much higher rate than they paid for the other 10 works they have by that artist. Guess what...
by metabasalt
Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Re: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/201

'Money and Power' by Edward Cohan. It's a history of Goldman Sachs. I'm not even sure why I picked it up other than that I've developed the murky impression that GS is responsible for a lot of our current financial problems, as are many of the other big investment banks. So I thought maybe I could learn more. I find it to be a dense book -- I'm only getting through 100 pages a week and it's a 600 page book. But it is fascinating. I have no real life experience with investment banks, just murky notions that I've picked up in other reading. I've found this book great for fleshing out what they are, what they were, etc. But most of all it has changed my opinions in some ways, both good and bad, of GS. It will be interesting to see what I think...
by metabasalt
Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:36 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

'Don't Count on It' by John Bogle, which I'm really enjoying, even if I've read much of it before.

'The Lords of Finance', by Liaquiat Ahamed, which I'm just finishing. Despite good reviews I've found it somewhat hard to follow. It's been interesting reading but I have that nagging feeling that I'll need to reread if I want to fully understand it. Does put a scare into me though.............. As William Bernstein says though it's always good to read more financial history.
by metabasalt
Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:32 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you let the cat go outside?
Replies: 57
Views: 6055

Thank you all for your responses, even those of you who disagree with me. But over the years we've had some strays were it's been almost impossible to keep them as indoor-onlys - it just depends on the cat's personality (and probably how long the stray was used to outdoors life and its experiences out there). That's the thing! I just don't think it's possible for my kitty to be indoor-only. He'd just get too agitated and depressed. Just to fill in a bit more detail -- He's rarely away from the house for more than 45 minutes (I'm guessing that he doesn't want to get too far away from his food supply). Often he'll just hang out on the front porch for hours at a time, and just watch the world go by. And I don't let him stay outside overnight....
by metabasalt
Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

'Pieces of My Heart' by Peter Robinson, part of the Inspector Banks series. We just started reading the Banks series about 3 months ago and are really enjoying it. By contrast John Sanford's 'Storm Prey', which I also just read, seemed unrelentingly grim, as they so often do. I've given up on him and much prefer someone like Peter Robinson.
by metabasalt
Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? Part IV. (07/04/2010)
Replies: 1507
Views: 401915

Finished 'The Sellout' by Charles Gasparino and just about done with 'Thirteen Banks' by Simon Johnson and James Kwak. Both leave me less than hopeful about the future of the US economy.
by metabasalt
Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: New Yorker Cartoon?
Replies: 11
Views: 2215

As an aside, I spent about 6 months religiously entering the new yorker cartoon caption contest, and, every week, I was certain I would win. Never even a finalist. Gave up when realized most of the winning captions sucked The New Yorker is about feeling intellectual and reaffirming one's incredible intellect. The magazine is geared towards people who want to feel smart. Not funny, 'clever'. Not hilarious, 'brilliant'. It doesn't really have to be funny, and usually isn't. I'm a fairly recent subscriber, for the last five years more or less. And I can't really agree with you, except with those cartoon contests. I hate them for the very reason you mention - oh so smart people congratulating themselves on how smart they are. But the magazine ...
by metabasalt
Tue Apr 06, 2010 4:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is retirement the ultimate goal?
Replies: 53
Views: 8660

Re: Is retirement the ultimate goal?

Let's philosophize a bit... I wonder if we're over-obsessed with the notion of "retirement". Should we really spend half of our lives worrying about the second half? I'm not saying we should not save for the future and all, but should that take priority over the present? This always hits me when looking at magazine stands: "Retire rich!", "25 Best Cities to Retire!", usually accompanied by photos of perfectly healthy and glowing 70 year old senior citizens walking on the beach at sunset (hint hint!). Seems that for many people, retirement the ultimate goal. Is that true for you? I have read a book entitled "Avoid Retirement and Stay Alive" by David Bogan and Keith Davies which does not advocate stayi...
by metabasalt
Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What makes you feel most alive?
Replies: 98
Views: 14423

Padlin wrote:Being outside in the early mornings before the rest of the world wakes up. I get the same feelings when on back country camping/canoe trips alone where you see and hear no one for days on end.
This, especially up in the Sierras where I haven't been in decades, and creating art. I don't so much have to be alone, though I can enjoy that too, as to have the other person/s just be quiet and enjoy it too.
by metabasalt
Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:00 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: 21 Ways to Cut Expenses in Retirement
Replies: 15
Views: 3706

joe8d wrote:Take full advantage of all your public library offers:
Books, Magazines, DVDs,VHS's.music CDs,books on tape/CD, etc.All free.
This will certainly be on my list when I retire.
by metabasalt
Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any Tomato Growers ??
Replies: 17
Views: 3442

For determinate tomatoes I'd recommend 'Stupice' available from Seed Savers Exchange in seed and possibly as plants. They are both early and determinate so you get a fair number of tomatoes pretty early. They're relative small, about 3/4 size of tennis ball I'd say. I also like 'Green Zebra'. I don't really recall if they're determinate or not but they grow like they're determinate. A mild tasting green and yellow striped tomato. Also about 3/4 size of tennis ball.
by metabasalt
Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Book Are YOU Currently Reading? PART III (12/11/2009)
Replies: 424
Views: 84395

'The Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist' by Fred Brooks and 'Common Sense on Mutual Funds: 10th Anniversary Edition' by John Bogle. Both monuments to common sense.

Finally finished 'Four Pillars of Investing' which is in the same category. It's so refreshing to read books that are mainly substance.

Recently finished 'The Lincoln Lawyer' on audiotape, and am having another go at the massive 'Middlemarch' on tape. I remember loving it in college, quite the opposite of a number of people here as I recall from a thread on most-hated books. :lol:
by metabasalt
Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Any gardeners out there?
Replies: 14
Views: 2621

I got through graduate school by cooking supper on one burner in my painting studio. It consisted most of the time of canned clams, pasta, garlic and a sprig of marjoram from the plant that I grew in a small pot in my north-facing window. The marjoram made the meal. Most herbs are tough and like a little neglect. But the perennials may be better for you than the annuals since they'll probably last longer. Marjoram, thyme, rosemary are all perennials I believe. Just DONT overwater them. Basil is a bit harder. But you might try one of the small globe basils. They are small and have tiny leaves. My guess is that you could make them last longer for culinary use than with a normal basil. Still it's worth a try. You also might consider growing th...
by metabasalt
Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tree Recommendations
Replies: 28
Views: 3400

Try this http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wi ... lants.aspx for recommended plants in PA. I'd do a bit of study on this before you buy anything. Some trees will grow fairly quickly and that's great unless you decide you don't like them after they've grown. Then you have a real pain taking them out. It's worth taking time to decide I think.

I'd go for oaks because I love them. But I realize that doesn't fit what you want at all. I'd also make sure that whatever I got could handle heavy snow. Some trees will lose their branches quickly in bad weather.
by metabasalt
Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: quit my job?
Replies: 82
Views: 12132

there's nothing wrong with risk taking - especially at your age. this line of thinking always makes me cringe. isn't there always something wrong with taking uncompensated risks, at any age? don't mistakes tend to compound at a young age? how about this: 1. quit job. 2. knock up girlfriend. 3. shotgun marriage. 4. unemployment insurance runs out. 5. wife leaves you for your personal trainer at the gym. 6. alimony and child support (now that's freelance) eat into your freelance paycheck. 7. heath insurance denies your workout-related injury because they consider "poor risk management" a pre-existing condition. but hey, it's OK because young people can take these risks, because they're young. and invincible. maybe not. I think that...
by metabasalt
Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Is college worth it?
Replies: 152
Views: 16113

I think you should find out what you have both a passion and talent for and quit worrying about pay grades, job security, and office politics! Become obsessed with it. Learn everything about it. And THEN go to college to help you learn more about it. That's what I learned after getting a degree in English, finding no jobs were available for that degree, relocation from the midwest to CA in the interest of finding myself, and then realizing that what I loved was art. Though I liked college the first time around I loved it the second time because I had a specific, passionate purpose for being there. Many people have many different reasons for going to college as the responses have shown. For me my first degree when I just went to college unt...
by metabasalt
Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Power Tool Suggestions?
Replies: 29
Views: 6512

As long as we're showing off new Kitchens, here are a few shots of mine: (looks like Boris and I have the same frig) Doors and drawer fronts were all made by me in my shop. The wood is quarter sawn White Oak with lots of ray flake to give a Stickley/Mission look, with a light brown stain and a catalyzed lacquer finish. No wonder they look so good. When we bought our last house we looked at about 50 and only saw one that we liked in terms of kitchen cabinets. Too much dark heavy-looking wood, with extraneous moulding that would look better in a King Arthur movie. It's so hard to find simple, clean cabinetry that accents the beauty of the wood. These do! Did you use hand tools for them as well? I think I read higher up in thread you recommen...
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:55 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Social Security: get grandfathered in now??
Replies: 30
Views: 6884

retcaveman wrote:
From an emotional perspective, I also felt good that the decision was made and I didn't have to continue to analyze and worry about it for another 8 years. We made our decision and can move forward with our lives. Maybe it was a good decision and maybe not. But it's made now.
This seems to be a factor that's not talked about much: the emotional wear and tear of continuing to debate the decision. Now some here are firmly committed to 70 for one spouse and they're probably not going to keep analyzing, etc. They're firm in their decision.

But for those who go back and forth it may be that finally it's just easier to take it and be done with worrying about it. I suspect that we'll hit that point at some time long before I reach 70.
by metabasalt
Fri Feb 19, 2010 3:31 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Wall St Journal home delivery
Replies: 29
Views: 14244

I'm up in northcentral Wisconsin and have experienced a dozen missed deliveries in the past 6 months. I heard that WSJ had production problems at the Chicago-area printing plant---whether that is true or not, I am not sure. That said, WSJ has always been superb about crediting my account for the missed &/or late deliveries----IMHO, a quality product from a quality organization. That's been about my experience: a dozen in 6, maybe 12 months, in Philadelphia. But some of that is due to snow, which even prevented the post office from delivering, theft because I live in a big city and it's left on the sidewalk outside the yard, and possible changes of delivery and/or production. As Sconie says they've been superb about crediting account. W...
by metabasalt
Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:41 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Forum Turns 3 on 2-19
Replies: 57
Views: 8674

DartThrower wrote:This is the internet at its very best! Congratulations and a heartfelt thanks to those who made this site happen.
I think this says it all.
by metabasalt
Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pitchers and Catchers; Truck Day; baseball is back!
Replies: 66
Views: 6349

Over the course of my life I've actually found "deeply enjoys baseball" to be a reasonably good proxy for "is intelligent". On the other hand, the game is not enjoyed by those that are averse to analytical thinking or have short attention spans. Right? Just 15 years ago or so I couldn't stand baseball. I particularly couldn't stand the emphasis on stats, which I still think is the best way to put the viewer to sleep. At that time I love basketball. But a few year later I'd lost all interest in basketball. It was just too fast to be enjoyed. Now I love the slow pace of baseball. So did I just have a shorter attention span then? Actually I think that's somewhat true. Now it's longer and I much prefer baseball. Even the co...
by metabasalt
Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:17 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pitchers and Catchers; Truck Day; baseball is back!
Replies: 66
Views: 6349

mrboast wrote:Does anyone seriously watch baseball on tv? I can understand going to a game and enjoying outside with the family - with the ballgame being a side attraction.
If I want to "seriously watch" baseball then I'd rather do it on tv. The new Phillies stadium is great but I find I can't actually follow the game as well there. Not to say I wouldn't turn down free season tickets. You do get a great atmosphere and you get to be outside, a real treat especially in the warm summer nights. You can't beat that. But to watch seriously, I'd prefer to be at home watching it. So yes some people do seriously watch baseball on tv.
by metabasalt
Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Why you can't trust Google with your privacy
Replies: 8
Views: 2436

It's good that there are people like metalman to remind us to keep in our minds the possible trade off between privacy and convenience. But basically the way this goes is that someone throws up their hands and says "enough! I'm keeping my info to myself. Thankyouverymuch" and most other people say "meh, I don't think it's that big of a deal". Yes, it's a good reminder to keep thinking about this, but the line between convenience and privacy (if there is one, or if that's even a useful way to think about it) is different for everyone. Ryan I tend to agree with both metalman and ryan. But I would suggest thinking about this question: How many people said "meh, I don't think it's that big of a deal" about 2-3 yea...
by metabasalt
Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do/did you decide whether it is time to retire?
Replies: 125
Views: 20018

Re: It was a process:

The most important thing is to retire by choice, if possible. The second most important thing is to have an idea of what you will do with the time. My "retirement" began many years, about 15, before it became official. My line of work allowed decisions about when to work. I'm on the verge of retirement so can't speak as someone who has actually retired. But Nowizard's line about 'retire by choice' struck home to me. Being in the newspaper industry I and my wife have had to consider buyouts, job loss, early retirement etc. for at least 10 years. It's the best thing that ever happened to us (well at least in the top 10) because it has forced us to look seriously at our retirement for years. That has given us a good sense of our fin...
by metabasalt
Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do/did you decide whether it is time to retire?
Replies: 125
Views: 20018

Yes, in general, I'm sure there are many reasons people don't retire. But the SPECIFIC individuals I'm thinking of fit more into the description I gave. One in particular used to have a reputation of being an OT "prostitute," as I heard many guys say. I knew several people like this at my newspaper. They referred to themselves as "overtime whores." Daily newspapers are 24/7 operations, so newsroom and production people have to work holidays. In my later years (like the last 23), I never volunteered for holidays, even though they paid double-time. People wondered why. I always said, "Because time is the only thing you can't buy." An older co-worker pointed out to me early in my career that people who weren't wo...
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Ideas for avoiding cable
Replies: 72
Views: 11821

TJAJ9 wrote:
LadyGeek wrote:I've got cable. Why? I'm into sports big time. Comcast owns the broadcast rights to my Philadelphia Flyers (and Sixers if I followed basketball). Cable is the only option. In the Philly area, that means Comcast or Verizon FiOS, which also carries Comcast Sportsnet.
Ditto. The main reason I have Comcast is for the sports. I would miss tons of Phillies games without it. It also has a lot of other great channels and on-demand is good for watching movies.
This SHOULD not be true this year: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/busi ... 74911.html

I'm hoping that there are no hidden loopholes.
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Poll: How many credit cards do you have?
Replies: 76
Views: 20057

Two cards:
1) A credit union card, with low rates, that's a joint card for me and my wife
2) Another credit card, which I use for my purchases.

My wife also has her separate credit card, which may count as #3. But we try to use the joint credit union card for 75% of our purchases.
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird feeding, gardening and the simple pleasures
Replies: 49
Views: 6446

Good thread. I used to buy black oil sunflower seeds to feed the birds. It kept them around longer because they have to crack them open. The cheapest place I found them was at Home Depot. As for the squirrels....well, they make fun targets. Another thing you can do is toss our your old or partially eaten fruits and veggies. You'd be surprised at what'll show up. what's the difference between birds and squirrels but for the wings? One difference, though I do realize (I think :lol: ) that this was said somewhat facetiously, is that squirrels don't migrate. Birds do. That might not seem like much but once you get into birdwatching and birdfeeding you realize that some of the birds that may appear in your yard have just come from Alaska on the...
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:23 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird feeding, gardening and the simple pleasures
Replies: 49
Views: 6446

We also had trouble keeping the squirrels and chipmunks out of the bird feeder. We found the solution. The garden store sells a squirrel repellent product. It is actually finely ground hot red pepper. The rodents won't touch it, but the birds don't notice it. A small amount mixed with the birdseed does the job. Better yet, once the rodents learn that the food is not so tasty, they don't bother to come back later, even when the hot pepper is not being used. Jeff Sad to say our urban squirrels seemed to think that they were getting something special: Spicy Bird Food. It was almost as though they preferred i to the normal stuff. It was no deterrent at all! But obviously it works for some. My theory is that our urban squirrels are just used to...
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Bird feeding, gardening and the simple pleasures
Replies: 49
Views: 6446

grandpajack wrote:I live about 20 miles from Starved Rock State Park on the Illinois River, which has an eagle watch in late January. One day recently, I saw a bald eagle circling above the field behind my house. He landed and appeared to snack on something in the field. It was a captivating experience.
We try to visit Starved Rock SP every year when we're back in Illinois visiting relatives. We rarely see eagles in fall though we see all sorts of migrating warblers as well as white pelicans at Lone Shelter Point. In any case it's always a great spot for birdwatching for us and one of the high points of our trip.
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:14 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do/did you decide whether it is time to retire?
Replies: 125
Views: 20018

Re: How do/did you decide whether it is time to retire?

Many signs are pointing toward pulling the plug this year, but I have reservations. I have come to the conclusion that whether or not I retire, I will have regrets. There are pros and cons either way. I am interested to know how others made the decision. Was it from the gut, or did you use a process that made the decision crystal clear? Like you teacher, this year will probably be the year for me and probably my wife. She's 62 and I'll be 62 at end of year. We have pension, SS and a fair amount of savings. And I know exactly what I want to do when I leave my job. So really I won't be retiring, just going to a job I love that may not pay me anything. My wife is more uncertain and thus may wish to work longer. My one hesitation is little mon...
by metabasalt
Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:36 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: How many athletic bogleheads?
Replies: 111
Views: 14624

Just some exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike at home right now. I do hope to return to swimming soon, always my favorite exercise.

Before it closed at least 10 years ago there was a club in Philadelphia that had a heated outdoor pool, even in winter. So you could swim as it snowed. I loved it. But I'm not sure if they would have kept it open for the recent 48 inches of snow.... :D
by metabasalt
Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: This is a really cool site [world newspaper front pages]
Replies: 19
Views: 3137

I wonder how they get all those thousands of front pages. I mean, they have the front page of the free daily newspaper in Santa Barbara (pop. ~80,000) along with its "non-free" competitor. Quite impressive. A PDF of the front page of the paper is sent to them. An automated task that takes about 5 seconds at most to run. Whoa, technology! Thanks for blowing my mind. Not really helpful though. So they contact each paper of thousands and convince them to send them this pdf? Presumably convince them to run a program that does it automatically? Oh nevermind. I can only speak for one paper but I think it's safe to generalize. This sort of automation is pretty common today and has been for years. As much as I hate the term I realized th...
by metabasalt
Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: This is a really cool site [world newspaper front pages]
Replies: 19
Views: 3137

ryuns wrote:
I wonder how they get all those thousands of front pages. I mean, they have the front page of the free daily newspaper in Santa Barbara (pop. ~80,000) along with its "non-free" competitor. Quite impressive.
A PDF of the front page of the paper is sent to them. An automated task that takes about 5 seconds at most to run.
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:39 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A neutral term for "high yield"/"junk" b
Replies: 25
Views: 3111

Re: A neutral term for "high yield"/"junk&quo

I don't like calling them "high yield" bonds; that's an obvious euphemism, designed to make them sound good. I mean, given a "low yield" bond and a "high yield" bond, who wouldn't want the high yield? I don't like calling them "junk bonds," either. That's spinning it in the other direction. Is "non-investment-grade" bonds a good, neutral, unbiassed term for them? Is there any distinction between "high yield" bonds and "non-investment-grade" bonds? For years I invested in 'high yield' bonds in my 401k because, well why not? High yield had to be good right? I've never gone back and checked but I think I did survive those years where I invested so much in them. In retrospec...
by metabasalt
Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple Unveils New Tablet Computer
Replies: 158
Views: 19270

JMacDonald wrote:Hi,
In the NY Times today: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/busin ... .html?8dpc
Short of landing in a flying saucer and having a tablet teleported into his hands, there was no way that Steve Jobs could have lived up to the hype before last Wednesday’s iPad announcement.
If Mel Brooks were making a movie about this, he would have Jobs coming down the mountain as Moses holding an iPad with the Ten Commandments on it.
Take a look at the cover of this week's Economist. Not sure if it's Jobs as Moses, since he has a halo, but it sure looks biblical. And he is holding a ipad tablet...........
by metabasalt
Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:02 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Could you/do you live on $50,000 a year?
Replies: 356
Views: 82621

Re: Live on $50k/yr

I don't have a cell phone, either. I find them annoying, rude, and the users generally selfish (or "cell-fish"). And I find non-cell phone users sanctimonious! I'll take sanctimonious over illegal (phone yakking while driving) or hazardous (in a doctor's office which has equipment sensitive to cell phone signals), or just plain rude (phone yakking on a train which annoys dozens around you). You don't see signs or hear announcements or receive tickets for being sanctimonious, but you do for yakking on a cell phone. Agreed! The rudest people I've seen over the last few years are cell-phone users. Absolutely oblivious to anyone outside of themselves. The idiotic yakking is unpleasant enough but when they make it unsafe for the rest ...
by metabasalt
Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Apple Unveils New Tablet Computer
Replies: 158
Views: 19270

Some day they will have a single device that will seamlessly and economically combine all the best aspects of the HDTV, PC, GPS, camera, book and phone, hopefully with appropriate security and privacy safeguards. Until then, I will watch HDTV on my 52" screen, use my powerful PC with its nice big screen and keyboard, employ my portable and perfectly-sized GPS device, take pictures with a high quality camera, read from easy-on-the eye and flexible paper, and use my cell phone as infrequently as possible. I will carry only the ones I need, and if any of them break or are lost or stolen, I won't be totally up the creek. I will also take solace from the fact that no single organization will have a record of every data file, web search, TV...