Kiisu's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/134376/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/111853-hedge-fund-redemptions-may-crash-q1-markets?source=feed#comment-336361 336361 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:55:39 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/111655-the-deflation-scam?source=feed#comment-334892 334892
I've lived well within my means. I've not leveraged my future into oblivion. Thus the prospect of deflation, whether Austrian or common, is long awaited, as it stretches the value of my savings.

Inflation financed fables. It empowered the insatiable. It funded massive government intrusions. It enabled a host of social and political "evils". It destroyed the value of saving for one's future.

Deflation rewards unleveraged savers at the expense of the profligate... and that is not a bad thing.

Deflation unwinds accumulated financial nonsense... and there is a lot to unravel.

Deflation denies funding for the insatiable, the untenable, and the intrusive.

Surely a round of deflation is in order, no?]]> Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:17:17 -0500
I've lived well within my means. I've not leveraged my future into oblivion. Thus the prospect of deflation, whether Austrian or common, is long awaited, as it stretches the value of my savings.

Inflation financed fables. It empowered the insatiable. It funded massive government intrusions. It enabled a host of social and political "evils". It destroyed the value of saving for one's future.

Deflation rewards unleveraged savers at the expense of the profligate... and that is not a bad thing.

Deflation unwinds accumulated financial nonsense... and there is a lot to unravel.

Deflation denies funding for the insatiable, the untenable, and the intrusive.

Surely a round of deflation is in order, no?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106597-six-reasons-for-cloudy-skies-on-the-solar-energy-industry?source=feed#comment-309574 309574
However, if I recall correctly, there are alternative engineering solutions to current commercial reactor technology... breeder reactors being one that comes immediately to mind (a properly designed breeder can produce more "fuel" than it "burns"; it is "old" technology; and breeders can be designed to use the more plentiful Thorium instead of Uranium).

And as I recall, some radioactive waste is "waste" for political, not-technical, reasons. With proper reprocessing, that waste can be reused in properly designed plants.

And to throw a bit more gasoline on the fire, I've thought US commercial reactor design to be a bit backward in an engineering-economic sense... instead of building and debugging a series of one-off designs, I've thought the better approach would be to create a small set of standardized power plant designs. As lessons are learned, the standardized design set would be updated. Once debugged, major system components could be mass-produced... thereby reducing the plant unit-cost.

Just a few bits of trivia to sidetrack an interesting discussion.

--Kiisu]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:28:16 -0500
However, if I recall correctly, there are alternative engineering solutions to current commercial reactor technology... breeder reactors being one that comes immediately to mind (a properly designed breeder can produce more "fuel" than it "burns"; it is "old" technology; and breeders can be designed to use the more plentiful Thorium instead of Uranium).

And as I recall, some radioactive waste is "waste" for political, not-technical, reasons. With proper reprocessing, that waste can be reused in properly designed plants.

And to throw a bit more gasoline on the fire, I've thought US commercial reactor design to be a bit backward in an engineering-economic sense... instead of building and debugging a series of one-off designs, I've thought the better approach would be to create a small set of standardized power plant designs. As lessons are learned, the standardized design set would be updated. Once debugged, major system components could be mass-produced... thereby reducing the plant unit-cost.

Just a few bits of trivia to sidetrack an interesting discussion.

--Kiisu]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104904-it-might-be-impossible-to-stop-the-decline-of-housing-prices?source=feed#comment-301517 301517
* "a buy-back program with the Federal Government offering to buy from owners..."

* "the government should create a new lending entity guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Gov. that makes loans..."

* "A job creation program..."

* "Take all the low prices homes that have been foreclosed on and give them to the homeless..."

* "A program which subsidizes rents of homes..."

And all similar Federal Government-oughta-dos....

I've read the US Constitution.

I've yet to find a clause that permits the Federal Government to assume any of those powers.

Though it seems obvious from history that many of our legislative, executive and judicial leaders have consistently and willfully violated their oaths to "protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic"... I fail to see how proposing additional violations of the Constitution would solve any of our perceived problems.

As my grandfather might have said, "unconstitutional expansions of the Federal Government are not the solution... they _are_ the problem."

If you truly desire to remove the limits and give such powers to the Federal Government, then it is right, just, and appropriate to amend the Constitution accordingly.

Until then "we the people" should not be begging the source of the problem to illegally assume even more power.]]> Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:54:26 -0500
* "a buy-back program with the Federal Government offering to buy from owners..."

* "the government should create a new lending entity guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Gov. that makes loans..."

* "A job creation program..."

* "Take all the low prices homes that have been foreclosed on and give them to the homeless..."

* "A program which subsidizes rents of homes..."

And all similar Federal Government-oughta-dos....

I've read the US Constitution.

I've yet to find a clause that permits the Federal Government to assume any of those powers.

Though it seems obvious from history that many of our legislative, executive and judicial leaders have consistently and willfully violated their oaths to "protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic"... I fail to see how proposing additional violations of the Constitution would solve any of our perceived problems.

As my grandfather might have said, "unconstitutional expansions of the Federal Government are not the solution... they _are_ the problem."

If you truly desire to remove the limits and give such powers to the Federal Government, then it is right, just, and appropriate to amend the Constitution accordingly.

Until then "we the people" should not be begging the source of the problem to illegally assume even more power.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102430-changing-the-nation-s-mindset-about-housing?source=feed#comment-294868 294868
"Take a deep breath, hold, out slowly, relax." Instructions from Drill Sergeant Reeves, 1975, Ft Jackson, SC. Son, I was wound a bit tight back then, but found his words good advice... then as well as now. So I'm passing on the favor, and handing those words to you...]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:14:02 -0400
"Take a deep breath, hold, out slowly, relax." Instructions from Drill Sergeant Reeves, 1975, Ft Jackson, SC. Son, I was wound a bit tight back then, but found his words good advice... then as well as now. So I'm passing on the favor, and handing those words to you...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102430-changing-the-nation-s-mindset-about-housing?source=feed#comment-294008 294008
Of course I had the incentivizing advantage of being scrawny and half starved. My clothes were twice my age, and the house I lived in would have been illegal if a prison (I hot-bunked with a sib, and had one drawer and 12 inches of closet space to call my own).

The class paid off.

I bought a small farm two weeks ago. I retire in 64 days… having set the date 10 years ago.

I'm not rich, but I’ve been able to accumulate the resources I need for what I want to do for the foreseeable future. Seems to me, opportunities abound, even now, if you're hungry enough to dig for them.]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:14:24 -0400
Of course I had the incentivizing advantage of being scrawny and half starved. My clothes were twice my age, and the house I lived in would have been illegal if a prison (I hot-bunked with a sib, and had one drawer and 12 inches of closet space to call my own).

The class paid off.

I bought a small farm two weeks ago. I retire in 64 days… having set the date 10 years ago.

I'm not rich, but I’ve been able to accumulate the resources I need for what I want to do for the foreseeable future. Seems to me, opportunities abound, even now, if you're hungry enough to dig for them.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/95807-the-nationalization-of-aig?source=feed#comment-256625 256625
Really?

All statements must be viewed with skepticism and be subject to scrutiny. Central or authoritarian regulation of debate, study and inquiry makes truth difficult if not impossible to find.

If it is foolish to discuss the merits of anything, then we are in worse shape than I had imagined...]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:36:26 -0400
Really?

All statements must be viewed with skepticism and be subject to scrutiny. Central or authoritarian regulation of debate, study and inquiry makes truth difficult if not impossible to find.

If it is foolish to discuss the merits of anything, then we are in worse shape than I had imagined...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/93409-financial-crisis-our-founding-fathers-america?source=feed#comment-243649 243649
True, but only so long as it is obeyed.

If you read the US Constitution, then review current laws, judicial mandates, and Executive Orders, you'll quickly realize that the Constitution is in turned deliberately ignored, malevolently misinterpreted, and maliciously mangled.

The very folk who swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” are the very parties responsible for such malign behavior. For the last century, they have, almost without fail, violated every restriction imposed by the Constitution.

Furthermore, the redefinitions and circumlocutions provided as justification invert logic and foreshadow a more virulent strain of 1984 Orwellian Newspeak.

If the Judiciary, the Legislative and the Executive are the guardians of Constitutional Law, then who watches the guardians? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who cures the malignancy festering in the heart of America?

And you wonder why we have a few problems?]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:33:41 -0400
True, but only so long as it is obeyed.

If you read the US Constitution, then review current laws, judicial mandates, and Executive Orders, you'll quickly realize that the Constitution is in turned deliberately ignored, malevolently misinterpreted, and maliciously mangled.

The very folk who swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” are the very parties responsible for such malign behavior. For the last century, they have, almost without fail, violated every restriction imposed by the Constitution.

Furthermore, the redefinitions and circumlocutions provided as justification invert logic and foreshadow a more virulent strain of 1984 Orwellian Newspeak.

If the Judiciary, the Legislative and the Executive are the guardians of Constitutional Law, then who watches the guardians? Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who cures the malignancy festering in the heart of America?

And you wonder why we have a few problems?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/80546-kbe-s-forward-yield-pays-you-to-wait?source=feed#comment-182223 182223
I thought we had one of those.

I assume you meant "due to the lack of a responsible lending market"... but as stated, the comment really tickled my funny bone... and humor can be such a rare commodity.]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:04:58 -0400
I thought we had one of those.

I assume you meant "due to the lack of a responsible lending market"... but as stated, the comment really tickled my funny bone... and humor can be such a rare commodity.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/79833-homeowners-associations-villians-or-victims-in-foreclosure-crisis-housing-tracker?source=feed#comment-178890 178890
We went self-managed. Our finances are now in very good shape (per our last annual audit, instead of at the brink of bankruptcy), our annual fees have remained unchanged in years and the property looks better and is better managed... needed repairs are being completed... at a reasonable cost... no more triple billing, contractors are held to their contracts (instead of hiring a 2nd contractor to fix the first's errors, and a 3rd contractor to fix the second's).

Not saying our approach works for everyone, nor that it is perfect, but it is dramatically than before and is definitely working for us...

And it is nice to no longer be held hostage to and act as a cash cow for a management company.]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:01:05 -0400
We went self-managed. Our finances are now in very good shape (per our last annual audit, instead of at the brink of bankruptcy), our annual fees have remained unchanged in years and the property looks better and is better managed... needed repairs are being completed... at a reasonable cost... no more triple billing, contractors are held to their contracts (instead of hiring a 2nd contractor to fix the first's errors, and a 3rd contractor to fix the second's).

Not saying our approach works for everyone, nor that it is perfect, but it is dramatically than before and is definitely working for us...

And it is nice to no longer be held hostage to and act as a cash cow for a management company.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/74881-3-long-ideas-mitcham-industries-key-technology-and-new-frontier-media?source=feed#comment-159922 159922
And because I did not (and still do not) understand such magical processes, I've stayed away. (stats from finance.yahoo.com/q/ks...)

Any enlightening explanations would be appreciated.

Kiisu.]]> Thu, 01 May 2008 02:43:00 -0400
And because I did not (and still do not) understand such magical processes, I've stayed away. (stats from finance.yahoo.com/q/ks...)

Any enlightening explanations would be appreciated.

Kiisu.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/71219-payrolls-drop-and-you-ain-t-seen-nothin-yet?source=feed#comment-150889 150889
For example, my extended family can be divided into 3 groups based on education. Those same groupings have, as best as I can determine, a 100% positive correlation with both household income and household wealth.

The first group for the most part did not finish HS. Most of the group (there are 2 counter examples) engage in what I consider risky behavior (drunkenness, smoking, drug use, minor drug dealing, cons, petty theft, & casual sex). For the most part they live from paycheck to paycheck... when there is a paycheck (the majority of the group have never held a full time job for a year... and as a SWAG the group averages a paycheck perhaps 30% of the year). For the remainder of the year they live on charity, con, theft and hand-outs. Their assets consist of junk cars, a long gun and whatever else they've been able to steal or scrounge. All have been in jail, some have been in prison.

The second group graduated from HS, and perhaps attended a bit of college or tech school. They hold steady, but minimal paying jobs, have little if any financial reserves, retirement is a fantasy, most have rented for years before finally scraping together enough cash to finally afford a house (though I suspect most here, if they could see the dwellings would scoff and label them shanties). They survive via hard work, diligence and perseverance. I was born into this group.

The third group graduated from college, some have advanced technical degrees, usually engineering. Most have pensions, health benefits, cash reserves, and multiple investments. Some own their own businesses, others consult part-time as well as work full-time.

In cataloging and reviewing the members of my family, the one determining factor seems to be attitude. In my family, attitude determines:
* If the individual can defer immediate gratification.
* If the individual takes advantage of available education.
* How the individual manages financial decisions.

Being able to defer immediate gratification means the family member mortgages the present to secure a better future, improves his education and learns to make better financial decisions.

However, education and wealth say nothing about the “quality” of an individual… for example, one of our best educated family members is self-righteous arrogant scoundrel who my wife and I avoid when ever possible. While her brother, a member of the first group, is a real pleasure to be around… despite his brushes with the law.

Your family may be different, but the above describes mine.]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:28:33 -0400
For example, my extended family can be divided into 3 groups based on education. Those same groupings have, as best as I can determine, a 100% positive correlation with both household income and household wealth.

The first group for the most part did not finish HS. Most of the group (there are 2 counter examples) engage in what I consider risky behavior (drunkenness, smoking, drug use, minor drug dealing, cons, petty theft, & casual sex). For the most part they live from paycheck to paycheck... when there is a paycheck (the majority of the group have never held a full time job for a year... and as a SWAG the group averages a paycheck perhaps 30% of the year). For the remainder of the year they live on charity, con, theft and hand-outs. Their assets consist of junk cars, a long gun and whatever else they've been able to steal or scrounge. All have been in jail, some have been in prison.

The second group graduated from HS, and perhaps attended a bit of college or tech school. They hold steady, but minimal paying jobs, have little if any financial reserves, retirement is a fantasy, most have rented for years before finally scraping together enough cash to finally afford a house (though I suspect most here, if they could see the dwellings would scoff and label them shanties). They survive via hard work, diligence and perseverance. I was born into this group.

The third group graduated from college, some have advanced technical degrees, usually engineering. Most have pensions, health benefits, cash reserves, and multiple investments. Some own their own businesses, others consult part-time as well as work full-time.

In cataloging and reviewing the members of my family, the one determining factor seems to be attitude. In my family, attitude determines:
* If the individual can defer immediate gratification.
* If the individual takes advantage of available education.
* How the individual manages financial decisions.

Being able to defer immediate gratification means the family member mortgages the present to secure a better future, improves his education and learns to make better financial decisions.

However, education and wealth say nothing about the “quality” of an individual… for example, one of our best educated family members is self-righteous arrogant scoundrel who my wife and I avoid when ever possible. While her brother, a member of the first group, is a real pleasure to be around… despite his brushes with the law.

Your family may be different, but the above describes mine.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/71661-combating-financial-illiteracy?source=feed#comment-148022 148022
That cursory examination leads me to believe that while education is absolutely essential, education-by-itself is insufficient. Making good decisions also involves avoiding hubris (I'm guilty of that one, big time), understanding when and where to apply the rules (not too good at that one either), understanding the limitations of the rules (I've blown that one numerous times), and a host of other things I've not mentioned (and probably misunderstand).

At times indeed, the culprit is "what I know that ain't so"... which dear experience has shown to be one of my major failings.]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:38:55 -0400
That cursory examination leads me to believe that while education is absolutely essential, education-by-itself is insufficient. Making good decisions also involves avoiding hubris (I'm guilty of that one, big time), understanding when and where to apply the rules (not too good at that one either), understanding the limitations of the rules (I've blown that one numerous times), and a host of other things I've not mentioned (and probably misunderstand).

At times indeed, the culprit is "what I know that ain't so"... which dear experience has shown to be one of my major failings.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/71279-new-frontier-media-adult-pay-per-view-co-yields-high-dividends?source=feed#comment-146223 146223 finance.yahoo.com/q/ks...)]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:22:32 -0400 finance.yahoo.com/q/ks...)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/58082-hokey-religions-and-economic-forecasting?source=feed#comment-107298 107298
What?

Since when did the public sector, euphemistically the Federal Government, become “so vital”?

You can’t survive without it? Really? Such a claim beggars the imagination.

And are not libertarians and conservatives “real humans”? When I last checked, the ones I know certainly looked like real humans.

A "slight" difference is that investing in the Fortune 500 is entirely voluntary. However, current taxes and the future tax burden implied by deficit public spending are very much involuntary.]]> Sat, 29 Dec 2007 02:49:41 -0500
What?

Since when did the public sector, euphemistically the Federal Government, become “so vital”?

You can’t survive without it? Really? Such a claim beggars the imagination.

And are not libertarians and conservatives “real humans”? When I last checked, the ones I know certainly looked like real humans.

A "slight" difference is that investing in the Fortune 500 is entirely voluntary. However, current taxes and the future tax burden implied by deficit public spending are very much involuntary.]]>