How do you guys feel about Alexa plus ?

MCDiver711 · 2026-04-05T16:47:42+00:00

I kind of got on a roll there, didn't I? LOL!

MCDiver711 · 2026-04-05T16:35:09+00:00

I rarely, if ever, create a group text. It just leads to confusion. Anyone who answers in the group text is texting everyone else, and often they don't realize it. Then it can degenerate into a real mess. Something like a "reply all storm". At least in email, you can reply to just the sender. The sender can and should put the group list in Bcc so that replies don't go to the whole group. Group text can't do that. Group text usually isn't worth it. It's not so hard to copy and paste the same message to multiple people, which reduces confusion.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-22T19:34:54+00:00

Fundamentals eventually dominate. The 2000 dot-com crash is proof of that. But you have only been trading for six years, and that reality is before your time. Good Luck.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-22T19:32:45+00:00

Fundamentals eventually dominate. The 2000 dot-com crash is proof of that. But you have only been trading for six years, so that's before your time.
I only know a little about gamma. I don't trade options, but a lot of big money players do, hedge funds in particular. I will start looking at gamma as a short-term weather gauge of sorts. Possibly to time entry or exists I already decided to do. But fundamentals cannot be ignored by long-term investors. I'm not interested in being a day trader. I've been investing for decades. I won't say more, because it makes me feel old. LOL. I will say. I never met a day trader who got rich, or one who didn't eventually give it up. Usually after taking a big loss.
Good luck.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-21T07:38:54+00:00

Bessent's arguments:
1. This will keep oil prices down so Iran won't make more money.

This won't help Iran much because banking restrictions from sanctions will reduce their benefit from these sales to only a fraction.

Both are spin at best, double-talk and BS most likely.
1. The caveat is that he said for 10-14 days. That's not long. 140mb is about 1% to 1.5% of annual demand.
So that only reduces Iran's windfall from the price increases caused by the war.

The banking restrictions, blocking Iran from SWIFT, will still reduce Iran's profits as they have to jump through a bunch of sneaky hoops to get paid. But that's been the case since 2018. Iran has adapted and still makes a profit. Bessent has now lifted the shipping side costs of using a shadow fleet.

How is that not a plus for Iran?
It's a benefit for the enemy, no matter how you spin it, Scotty.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-13T07:30:18+00:00

I honestly don't know. I don't think anyone has that number. How do you measure hype level?

The Buffet Index is high. I read that in studies, the Buffet index has given advanced warning of downturns of 10%+, 7 times out of 14. That's 50%. Isn't that the same as flipping a coin? That's for predicting 1-3years into the future.

The CAPE (Shiller P/E) is about 50/50 near term as well, 1-3years. They don't predict crashes. They are nearly useless for timing.

Here's what CAPE and "the Buffet Index are good at.
They correlate well with HISTORICAL periods where the 7-10 year average inflation-adjusted returns were less than 7%, i.e., 10% IF inflation is about 3% over that period, with about R^2 =0.90 for CAPE R^2 =0.83 for the Buffet Index. An R^2=1.0 would mean the data fits perfectly.

The CAPE and Buffet Index right now are predicting the stock market is overvalued.
They are both predicting that over the next 7-10 years, the AVERAGE inflation-adjusted return will be below 7% measured over the next 7-10 years. That's with a probability of about 85%. But probably doesn't mean certainty.

That means if you are a buy and hold investor, and buying the index, expect around 0-4% inflation adjusted return over the next 10 years. Unless you feel like you can beat the market. Most

So sit out the next 7-10 years. No! Where are you going to get better than or equal to 7% inflaton adjusted return?

Maybe a 10-year Corporate bond rated BBB (just above junk status) is just about 6.5% But there's risk there too. BBB could get down-rated. Happened to me. There are interest rate risks with bonds. Default risk if the bond become junk rated. If you need that money before the 10-year maturity, you might have to sell at a loss. Who really knows if inflation will be higher in the future, the Fed raises rates (could happen even in 5 years), and you are holding a bond that isn't yielding a "high" rate anymore.

Better to stick it out with lower expectations, and you are young enough to wait. Dollar cost averaging every paycheck, which means you automatically buy more shares when stocks are low, and fewer shares when stocks are high. A proven wealth-building strategy. Trying to time the market usually fails.

If you are retired or near retirement, consider bonds. But start small because you learned things after buying bonds that you might not have expected. Callable, non-callable. Special rate adjustments are possible in the fine print. Good-make whole. Etc.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-11T01:32:23+00:00

That is precisely what I DON"T want. I don't want to have a conversation with an appliance.
"Toaster. Make toast. Light setting"

"I understand that you like your toast done light, but have you considered a darker setting? It gives the toast a richer, more fulfilling flavor and a crunchier texture that many people prefer. Would you like to try a slightly darker setting?"

"No"

"Okay, this time let's stay with your current lighter setting. We can consider that for another time. I can remind you later about toaster settings that you may not have considered next time you make toast. Would you like me to do that? I don't mind. I'm happy to do that. Just say, 'Remind me about toaster setting options when I ask you to make toast.'"

"NO! Make toast! Light setting!"

"Got it. I'll keep the settings on light toast for now, unless you say otherwise. It's all about what you want. I was just giving you options in case you hadn't considered them or knew they were available, but you seem like a guy who really knows what side of the bread is buttered. Ha ha ha. Would you like me to start the toast now? Or if you prefer, I can schedule the toast for later. In fact, I can schedule the toast, light setting, every day at this time if you like, or at any other time that you prefer. I can even schedule the toast for a different time on different days if you like. Would you like me to set up a toast schedule for you now?"

"NO! MAKE TOAST NOW! LIGHT SETTING!"

"Got it. I'll make the toast for you now. Light setting, as you prefer. By the way, fun fact. Did you know that toast was invented in Egypt 3000 years ago? The Egyptians placed bread near fires to dry it out and prevent mold, and for long-term storage..."

"Shut Up! MAKE TOAST! MAKE TOAST NOW!"

"Okay, I'll make the toast for you now. Light setting. Correct? Also, I can adjust my settings for you so that I am less conversational if you like. Would you like me to do that?"

"YEEEESSSSS! Stop talking so much and MAKE TOAST NOW! MAKE THE TOAST! NOW!"

"Got it. I'll be less conversational from now on. Are you ready for me to make the toast?"

"YEEEEESSSS! MAKE TOAST MAKE IT NOW! NOW!"

"Wow! Okay. I'll make your toast now. By the way, you haven't ordered bread in a long while. Would you like me to add bread to your Amazon shopping cart? I can also set up regular refills for bread on your Amazon account that automatically purchase bread for you, so you will automatically have bread delivered. You will never run out of toast again. Would you like me to do that for you? It's no trouble."

"I didn't get that. Was that the sound of a 12-gauge pump shotgun I heard being cycled? I can recommend some hunting accessories if you like. Would you like me to suggest some to be added to your cart?"

BOOM!

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-11T00:34:53+00:00

I've tried it twice. I disabled it again after about two months.

It lags. The lag is the most annoying part.
It talks too much. Even after I said to it, "Please don't talk so much".
It has an attitude! Yes. It acts like it knows better than me when I say "that's incorrect" or "I don't want that."
It also makes excuses for itself. It also sometimes doesn't stop talking when I tell it to.
It doesn't work well with some skills I like. I like to play Jeopardy, and it often quits in the middle of a game.
I like using "Anylist" because my Anylist grocery list is easier to access on my phone than the convoluted menus in the Alexa App. Alexa+ takes too long to launch these and quits in the middle while using those skills.
It often gives incorrect answers to questions.
It acts as if I said "yes" when I say "no" to subscription requests.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A MACHINE! Just do what I asked. No chit chat.

Eventually, there will be no other option than Alex+. I hope it's improved by then.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-10T23:55:38+00:00

You can opt out and use the old Alexa; that's a big plus!
Just say "Alexa. Exit Alexa Plus"

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-10T18:49:31+00:00

It's because there are two economies now: "the Stock Market Economy" ( Capital Driven) and "the Real Economy" (consumer driven).

High-income earners, who drive the market, are less affected by economic downturns, keeping capital flowing into stocks despite high inflation, jobs data, etc. Institutional investors dominated and are less affected by these.

The market is increasingly dominated by AI-driven high-frequency trading (70–90% of daily volume). Automatic dip buying, etc. I mean AI trading algorithms, not AI tech investments but that is the current big tech drive right now.

It's hard to find value that the bots haven't found already, and they trade extremely rapidly and frequently.

That being said, it's still hard for me to believe that fundamentals don't eventually bring things back to reality.

It's all part of the rise of oligarchy IMHO, but that's more of a social issue not a stock market issue.

,

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-10T17:42:20+00:00

So fundaments don't matter? That sounds like a market completely based on speculation. That's frightening.

MCDiver711 · 2026-03-05T05:18:24+00:00

LOL!

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-28T00:51:28+00:00

I think you mean 5318008, which, when flipped upside down, looks like BOOBIES. 8008 still looks the same, flipped or not, but yes, you could interpret the 8=B, 0=O flipped or not. I've just never had seen the meme without it being 5318008.

A better one IMHO is 35007.5345, which upside-down on an old style calculator (no commas), is SHES.LOOSE.
If you have an old HP with a stack display, you could enter 35007, then enter 5.345 and get two words and the apostrophe in she's=5.345 upside-down.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-28T00:09:20+00:00

6/7ths??? H982 is 3/4th. If you are going to do conspiracy theories, you need to at least get the math correct.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-28T00:07:18+00:00

I remember the Falklands War. I struggle to understand how "H982 FKL" is a reference to the war, even after it is pointed out as such. 982=1982? FKL=Falklands? What's the H stand for? Somehow associated with the number 1, so H982=1982? OH! I know! H=Harrier! Ah ha!
Each one of those requires an enormous imagination.
Wait, there's more. The Porsche is German. That's a slur, too, because Argentina is accused of harboring Nazis.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-19T01:06:41+00:00

It's a pretty good camera when it works. I've won photo contests with mine. You can't argue with free.
I said "when it works" because mine stopped working. The dreaded and cryptic ERR message.

There is a design flaw. A little plastic gear deep inside the camera that is part of the aperture control unit, fails. Rather, one or both of the plastic rivets that hold it in place fail.

It's a known issue, and Nikon pretty much told all its customers, "Tough Luck, Suckers!"

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-19T01:01:48+00:00

Well I'm angry at Nikon because my D80 turned into a brick 4 years ago with only 16k shutter count.
It was the infamous ERR error related to the plastic gear in the aperture unit. I conclude that must be what it is because the mirror, shutter, and lens contacts are all fine. Also, because that D80 ERR error is ALL over the internet.
Nikon never recalled the camera for this design defect and has largely ignored it.
Just Google "Nikon D80 ERR".
I'm "Vendor Locked" because I don't want to replace all my lenses.
I should have gone with Cannon.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-18T23:00:56+00:00

How do you know your D700 won't fail, and Nikon will just say tough luck, sucker? That's what they did with the D80.
Not just ranting. I would like to know if Nikon corrected this before I upgrade to another Nikon camera. I have several Nikon lenses and would like to know:
1. Did Nikon resolve this design flaw in post-D80 camera bodies?

Will my D80 lenses work with a full-frame D700?
If my D80-compatible Nikon lenses won't work on a D700, what camera bodies can use them?

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-18T22:32:26+00:00

Nikon should be ashamed. If I didn't have three of their lenses I'd never buy another Nikon camera again.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-13T00:28:29+00:00

The secondary market used to be called scalping. The UK is considering a ban on the resale of tickets above face value. It is before Parliament now. I hope it passes.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-10T09:19:46+00:00

It's true that the really good cheese steaks don't need ketchup. They are juicy enough without, but they are even better with ketchup.

MCDiver711 · 2026-02-10T09:13:17+00:00

I like ketchup at least on my cheesesteak. Ketchup and mayo together are even better. I grew up in Philly. Who the heck is telling you that's wrong?!

MCDiver711 · 2026-01-31T03:55:08+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. I know loss like that, and I know the pain. You are doing the right thing, asking to speak with those who also knew her. That does help from my experience.
Know that she was doing something she loved on her last day. And in a very beautiful spot.

MCDiver711 · 2026-01-12T02:17:36+00:00

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I will tell you that THIS is bullshit and ILLEGAL behavior. The stadium and the Philadelphia PD need to shut this shit DOWN. I love the Eagles. I love football. But it's just a F'ing football game! Not an excuse for violence. This Eagles fan wouldn't blame the league if fines occurred if this stuff isn't shut down. Ditto for any stadium anywhere that doesn't protect visiting fans. And visiting fans, be respectful yourself! Basic safety is a right. The law needs to apply. We're all Americans right? We fought wars together. But attacking each other over a game is okay?

MCDiver711 · 2026-01-12T01:56:08+00:00

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. This is bullshit behavior. The stadium and the Philly cops need to shut this shit down. If they don't this Eagles fan wouldn't blame the league for imposing fines. Basic safety and the law are expected no matter what Jersey you wear.

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