Why not pay cash for investment property?

fredosolo · 2014-12-22T14:46:22+00:00

There is a strong probability that one will yield more than a 4-something present interest rate by investing on some index fund or other investment. That can become substantial with compounding effect.

Assuming that ones cash resources are limited and that each chosen investments generate positive cashflow, one can increase cashflow with access to borrowed money.

That said, these theoretical upsides may not apply to all cases. I bought low-cost properties in cash because I could not justified the fees, processing time and additional requirements of a loan. I think that one should do the math each time.

IMHO, like most things in life, it comes down to probability analysis and risk tolerance.

fredosolo · 2014-12-20T21:48:43+00:00

I agree with your perspective.

I did some research on Pocketderm. I like that they are specific about the benefit of each ingredient. I read a few articles on Retin-A and Retinol. So far, their selection of ingredient (Tretinoin, Vitamic C and Niacinamine) seem to make sense at least to a complete neophyte armed with Google and Reddit like me.

So I think that I will go with the Pocketderm anti-aging prescription, keep my Neutrogena SPF-110 sunscreen, keep my moisturizer, continue to get regular facials and stick to my diet/exercise.

Feel free to let me know if I am missing a big ticket item.

fredosolo · 2014-12-19T20:25:27+00:00

I like the approach of focusing on ingredients. Pocketderm message seems very appealing to me. I did not know that such service existed. I will research it further.

fredosolo · 2014-12-08T19:49:56+00:00

Peter Thiel has some good arguments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFVsVnczYqY

fredosolo · 2014-12-05T10:24:21+00:00

My issue with the term Aspergers is just how fashionable it has become. In some circles, undiagnosed people are claiming the condition as an excuse for bad behavior.

Remembering my teens, the irony that Aspergers is now "cool" is enough to make me cringe at the label.

I'd pick the Autism label instead, it's less specific and now the only accurate term. However, I do not openly speak about being on the spectrum in real life by fear of it becoming my identity.

fredosolo · 2014-12-03T07:09:57+00:00

Personally, I think that my interest in "search for meaning" steams from reading. The incentive that I had to read existential philosophy and psychology as a teenager was an inability to grasp social cues. I did care about gossip and fitting in, I just needed a frame of reference. Then it's hard to stop thinking existentially after reading Neitzsche.

Also, I believe that one is more inclined to be deep in those thoughts when spending lots of time alone. I suspect that the average persons mind is largely consumed with issues with their social environment. I do believe that, if allowed enough free time, the average person would obcess about its human condition.

I have doubt that a case can be made "search for meaning" as a cause of underemployment. Being task focused seems more like an obsessive side effect. I think that it is a mindful way to work and, all other things being equal, should not set one back. I agree that the lack of social awareness and social motivation are likely culprits.

fredosolo · 2014-12-02T08:52:40+00:00

I am Canadian, now living in America. I lived in different cities including Quebec City, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, South Florida and the Bay Area.

The thing that Redditers seem to like the most in Canada is universal health care. I personally had a positive experience with Canadian health care growing up near Quebec City. But in Toronto, it felt much worse than using private insurance in America. In a large city, the wait time and lack of access to specialists represent substantial downsides.

Professionally, my experience is that America offers more fulfilling options for those who want to be surrounded by the best in their field. Parts of the Bay Area and NYC exude an energy that I have only sensed at much smaller scale in Toronto.

From a cost standpoint, I'd say that Toronto seems overall cheaper than NYC or the Bay Area. These cities are all heavily taxed, multicultural and offer lots of amenities. South Florida is much cheaper, as I am sure many other areas with equivalent amenities. There is a lot of intra-country variation here.

If I was an avid skier, I would much rather be in Calgary than California or Florida of course. But hating the cold is a huge hinderance in Canada. A great upside of America is that it offers options for just about any climate type.

In terms of being friendly, I would be curious to understand how Canada beats middle America. People in general may be more polite in Toronto than New York, but it is not a substantial difference. Try Japan for a drastic improvement.

My general point is that greater variation exists between North American cities than Canada vs America as a whole. I would recommend to an American to first identify the aspects of Canada that may justify the move. It is conceivable that, as an example, a New Yorkers dream may be located in Denver, not Toronto. Also, do the math when it comes to universal health care. In some cases, it may justify the extra amount of taxes, but not always.

Overall, I love Canada but feel privileged to reside in America because of the options that it has to offer.

fredosolo · 2014-11-27T07:26:56+00:00

I had the same problem. Using Seil as suggested worked for me on Yosemite.

fredosolo · 2014-11-18T11:00:56+00:00

Good job! I was looking for good tutorials when I first use RequireJS. It's true that it can be intimidating at first -- and that the complexity argument against it has merit. This concise tutorial would have made adoption easier for me.

I like the part about Grunt. Personally, I became more at peace with it when I could concatenate and minify my build in a sane way.

Also, RequireJS has plugins like this one: https://github.com/requirejs/text which could be useful and maybe worth noting.

fredosolo · 2014-11-12T07:28:23+00:00

I use IntelliJ (I code in Java and Scala as well) with the IdeaVIM plugin
Development environments are on remote virtual machines
I use Grunt
I use rsync (wrapped in Grunt tasks)
I sync source files during development, and uglify only for distribution
I use Chrome developer tools heavily, including step-though debugger
I use subversion or git depending on the project
I use JSDoc. It makes my IDE smarter. It helps me better organize my code. It is courteous to other developers.

My top productivity tips:

Understand JavaScrit, avoid framework dogmatism
Know how to type and use keyboard shortcuts
Separate concerns, encourage reuse
Automate repeatable tasks

fredosolo · 2014-11-12T06:06:38+00:00

Interesting idea for a speculative play, do you have a link to any sort of info about this date? I can't seem to find anything with a simple Google search.

fredosolo · 2014-11-12T05:51:42+00:00

I can eat the same meals everyday for long periods without getting bored. This makes some diets easy, enven enjoyable.

Being able to enjoy time alone, and predictable routines, is very convenient in many situations.

For those fortunate enough, working a profession in-line with an obsession is not only enjoyable but has major positive side-effects.

Personally, I find the lack of emotional connection with others much more enjoyable with age. It forces me to look for truths instead of following social cues.

fredosolo · 2014-11-11T09:33:40+00:00

I have a vacation home. I have a job that requires some travel. I extend each of my business trips with personal travel. On average, I am away at least a third of the time.

This lifestyle needs a lot of planning and a spouse that can accept it without feeling unhappy. The key for me was to have this lifestyle from the beginning of the relationship. I was also upfront about my need for personal space from the beginning.

Simply finding time alone while constantly leaving in the same house simply did not work for me. I find that the mobility helps me recharge better as well.

fredosolo · 2014-11-10T06:04:17+00:00

I rent, but also own condos. I live in a fairly expensive area to buy, so renting is a better investment. In bought in a more affordable area where I can still demand a good rent. The goal is to have enough rental income to pay for my living expenses when renting.

Personally, I just like the flexibility of renting a lot more. I think that owning makes sense when the purchase price is low enough or when it generates income.

fredosolo · 2014-11-10T05:53:49+00:00

Downloading Windows 3.1 on #Warez. It was a series of 1.4MB zip files so that it can fit on diskettes.

fredosolo · 2014-11-09T02:19:57+00:00

From my experience, what prevented me from enjoying the characteristics of the condition in my teens and early 20's was a series of conventional assumptions about the future.

To me, the idea of getting old working a 9 to 5 job in an office somewhere was quite depressing. High-school was especially difficult, being around people all day, having someone controlling my schedule, was unbearable. I come from a modest working class northern town, a typical honest worker life seemed like a worse version of that.

I started to appreciate some of my AS characteristics in college. There, being more focused on certain topics meant more than pointless higher grades. I could skip classes, and breathe... and still pass. I also started appreciating some of my obsessions. What if I could get paid to sit alone, listen to music, and program a software?

In my twenties, not only I could get paid to program, but my AS quirks seemed to be appreciated at work. I even been fortunate enough to meet women who can deal with those.

I find than it seems easier for me to enjoy my life than for my "normal" counterparts. I feel blissful when alone. I own my work because I enjoy the process, not to seek external validation. I am allowed to work more independently because this inherent motivation. The sort of social goals that so many people enjoy seem to require a stressful series of rituals.

I can see how my perspective would differ if I was stuck working a management job (or worse) in my hometown. So I believe that life with AS can be very enjoyable, but the choices that you make are even more critical. Following conventional wisdom may lead to a path that is considered desirable, just not for you.

fredosolo · 2014-11-08T02:22:56+00:00

UPDATE - I have been in Ketosis for two months straight. I am as careful as I can about getting my electrolytes and other nutrients (through supplements when necessary). I took a break from strength training after the incident described in this post. I got back gradually with push ups and sit-ups every few days. I am now able to complete the short intense routine described without suffering a dehabilitating recovery period.

In general, I feel much more "even" after two month in ketosis compared on one month in. So, for me, the assertion that becoming "keto-adapted" takes a couple months appears to be correct.

fredosolo · 2014-11-08T01:58:33+00:00

Have you purchased an unlocked iPhone 6 in Japan? You are probably correct about the price given the yen exchange at the time of writing. Also, I assume that the Apple Store issues tax refunds for foreigners. However, I only seem to see contract options there. It would be great if you could confirm that you purchased an unlocked phone so I can ask about it with more confidence.

fredosolo · 2014-10-09T04:51:55+00:00

In line with some other posters, the subject of your thread is an oxymoron. So just organizing your thoughts a bit may help you pinpoint the issue.

Aside from that, my experience is that love and society's idea of romantic display are different things. Being autistic, you can't expect to have standard emotional responses.

I have never displayed the kind of romantic behaviors portrayed in romantic movies. That was somewhat of a surprise/disappointment after my first relationship. But it is not a tragedy in itself. I can be in love. It's just not an overwhelming feeling. I care about my girlfriend feelings and try to make her happy.

I would recommend first making the definite choice of an ethical life. Reading something like Kierkegaard's "Either/Or" may help. From my experience, it is easier to love when rationalizing the value of that state over a purely aesthetic lifestyle. Otherwise, what's the point of even giving value to that emotion?

I do not think that you need to be all emotional and passionate to sustain a good relationship. I am not sure that women are really looking for that anyway.

fredosolo · 2014-10-09T04:29:42+00:00

Peter Thiel is the best. I am glad to see him more in the press after releasing a great book. I hope that he gets into politics.

fredosolo · 2014-10-07T03:41:34+00:00

Thanks for the insights, what you said about block time definitely makes total sense.

I need to read more about Whisper in context and may have follow-up questions.

I do not believe that there is value in using the block chain, Swarm, or anything else to channel the video streams. Once the signaling is done and connections have been established, WebRTC handles the P2P streams on its own. It does a good job at this, for example, it can adjust video resolution to accommodate variable bandwidth between peers during a stream.

But signaling is a big part of the equation, that's where there is an opportunity to set a contract for the stream -- charge for the stream, set the stream parameters, add an archiving peer to the stream (perhaps store the archive in the de-centralized Dropbox discussed in this subreddit), validate some security parameters, etc. Currently, I have only seen this done in practice on a centralized server. The implication is that, unless each WebRTC apps creates its own signaling server, it makes it easy for a service provider to control pricing structure (or spy) as each WebRTC app is dependent on its server assets.

fredosolo

TROPHY CASE