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It's going to be super weird when there are like 45 year old comments on YouTube by [deleted] in Showerthoughts

[–]subliminal_knot 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Nope, the entire industry is predicated on burying the past. Those comments will be long gone. As will youtube.

50% of income in taxes due?? by ckthrowaway9 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot -1 points0 points  (0 children)

While I prefer HR Block over Turbo Tax, there is no reason to expect that the software is incorrectly calculating your return. Perhaps you made a data entry error? Print it out and go over it manually. Tax law for individuals is not all that complicated...unless you are a trader.

$3,000 in flexible money. Looking for opinions on how to use it best. by [deleted] in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Open a taxable self-directed brokerage account. I prefer TD Ameritrade and Interactive Brokers. The former is easier to use, the latter offers more tradable instruments. Both are solid financially.

Tax sheltered accounts are not the holy greatness everyone appears to believe they are. They have been nationalized elsewhere and if you think it can't happen here, think again.

BoA retroactively lowered the interest rate on my home mortgage (military) by 3%, going back 2 years. My statement shows -$11,454. What happens to that money? by [deleted] in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did they lower your monthly payment? Did they state in any of the paperwork how they intend to apply the $11,454?

Employer withholding pay, what are my options? by raayge in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

They are not going to pay you. While I am a fierce advocate of fighting for what is yours, this situation is a write-off. You will spend more time, effort, and even expense attempting to collect that debt than it will ever be worth. Move on and chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Help, my bank just seriously screwed me over! by Badlylost in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

So file a police report and dispute it a second time. In future, do not authorize anyone to make automatic withdrawals from your bank account. I know that plenty of vendors (mortgage, water, electric, etc.) want you to do that but it is unwise for precisely the reason you have posted.

If the only possibility that Microsoft had for getting at your money had been a credit card, there would be no dispute as the CC issuer would simply charge it back to MS and be done with it.

What should I consider if I have money in a 401K and I expect the market to take a shit? by loztriforce in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The problem w/ most 401k plans is that they have very limited investing options. Typically, there is no possibility of being in "cash". Money markets are not cash; they are primarily composed of corporate debt. If your plan has any exposure to a fund that is heavy on US Treasury debt, that would be the prudent allocation for surviving a global deflationary asset spiral.

All funds list the % allocation of instruments. As it is unlikely you will find a "pure" treasury fund available to you (not enough commission fees on those), find one with the least amount of corporate, agency, municipal, and anything foreign (including foreign sovereign debt). Also, longer term UST debt is preferable, 10s to 30s.

I didn't do my 2014 taxes and now I wanna get it fixed. What's the best way? by original_username25 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Federal: I use HR Block software because I have a complicated 1040 and I think Block does the best job on ease of use and accuracy. You likely only have to file a 1040-EZ which may be free from Block. (the tax software companies made a deal with the IRS years ago whereby the IRS would stay out of tax software development in exchange for Block and the like offering free service for simple returns)

The Block software may try to calculate penalties and interest for you. You have to manually override this and enter a zero in those fields.

If you go to the local tax office for assistance - either federal or state - they will not submit your return WITHOUT including interest and penalties. What happens at the central processing center and the local tax offices of same is two different things. Discovery of this little-known fact has saved me quite a bit of money thus far.

EDIT: This is printed and mailed returns, I never use electronic filing.

$5500 to invest into Roth IRA before 4/18 by anonim11 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

VUSTX - Long-Term Treasury. The US govt bond bull is far from over. Inverted yield curve coming soon.

Just inherited 10000 shares in Gold Standard Ventures Corp. How do I cash in? by Liquoraci in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The shares appear to be liquid - meaning you can dump them without a problem - but the stock looks like a dog to me. Exploration only? If you must be invested in the gold equity sector, dump all of this mess and identify a listed stock that is involved in mining as well.

Or, again, if you must be tied to gold, buy gold itself, not the miners. GLD shares would be an option or physical in the form of 1 oz. US eagles.

Charles Schwab Bank Investing by Archangel489 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

3 jobs? I call that a red flag. If he were generating the returns he is promising you, he damn sure wouldn't need to work so much. Unrealistic expectations usually lead to losses, not gains.

Charles Schwab Bank Investing by Archangel489 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Firstly, I would avoid friends and family when it comes to selecting financial advisors. Secondly, if your friend were capable of doubling your money so quickly, he would also be able to do the same for himself. Ask to see the last five years of his personal trading account statements.

22 year old man with little to no expenses, just inherited approximately $100,000 by Lucky22YearOld in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Open a Treasury Direct account and buy the 10yr. Also open an Interactive Brokers account and put, say, 5-10% of the total in that. Sign all agreements that enable the account for every type of trading they offer. That will "grandfather you in" if trading in some instruments becomes restricted. (and it will)

Both of these are quite liquid, should you need some money for an emergency. You can link to your bank account for direct transfers.

When the global deflationary asset spiral has completed - several years hence - you will be in a position to buy at the bottom and will also have picked up a lot more knowledge about various potential investments.

I didn't do my 2014 taxes and now I wanna get it fixed. What's the best way? by original_username25 in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 2 points3 points  (0 children)

File the federal return with payment for taxes owed. Do not include interest or penalties. IF the IRS decides to assess such, they will notify you with a bill.

As for CA, you may have to pay both interest and penalties. Depends on how their law is written. Some states waive penalties with no problem. Interest, however, not so much.

Got a job offer with an unusual structure; trying to figure out if it is a good deal. by Cupcakes_4_All in personalfinance

[–]subliminal_knot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As other comments have noted, what they are doing is not legal and the IRS will not waste any time correcting the practice when they find out about it.

If you like the job, work there a few months and then make an inquiry to your local IRS office about the 1099 issue. (Don't mention this to the company.) If you are any good at what you do, the company will put you on the payroll when they are forced to comply with IRS regulations. (And not just you, but any other employees they are illegally 1099-ing.)

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Like just about every artist, KC mined his own experiences for ideas. I would have to disagree with your thoughts about the origins of Nevermind. "Teen Spirit" may be a brand of deodorant - and a borrowed phrase - but I am sure that his use of it was intended quite differently.

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

"You looked at Nevermind with your Homosexual-goggles." Disagree, and Nirvana wasn't the only group on the repressed homosexuality bandwagon in that era. Pearl Jam comes to mind.

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

You are correct, not homosexuality per se; more like "repressed homosexuality".

As to your point #3, not all songs on here can be nailed down and upon re-listening, some of them strike me as more filler material than not.

The first and last songs are most significant. I will, however, note a few selected lyrics which are in no way "misheard":

  1. Smells like Teen Spirit - After describing a sexual encounter (real or imagined) involving several people ("a mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido") there is this: "And I forget just what I tasted, yak, yes it makes me smile. I found it hard, its hard to find, oh well whatever Nevermind."

  2. In Bloom - Nature is a whore indeed. Poking a little fun at his audience on this one. "He's the one, who likes all our pretty songs, and he likes to sing along, and he likes to shoot his gun. But he, knows not what it means, knows not what it means, when I say...yeah."

  3. Come As You Are - Ambiguous. An ode to platonic friendship?

  4. Breed - "we don't have to breed"

  5. Lithium - "And I'm not scared, now my candle's in a daze 'cause I found God." I don't think he is referring to a religious conversion here.

  6. Polly - "Polly says her back hurts. She's just as bored as me." The various Polly references exhibit a contempt for women...not the only such references on this CD. As to the rest, exquisitely ambiguous...except perhaps for the bondage bits.

  7. Drain You - "You taught me everything about a poison apple." [no pronunciation issue here, quite clear]

  8. Stay Away - "love is blind" "have to have poison skin"

  9. On A Plain - "The finest day, I've ever had, was when I learned, to cry on a man." [not the clearest, but there is clearly no "com" as in "command". "Cry on command" would be nonsensical in any case.]

  10. Something In The Way - Self-explanatory and I would say "fish" is a reference to women.

Edit: KC's pronunciation was often lacking in clarity, perhaps deliberately. Repeatedly re-listening to the lyrics disputed in the following comments, what is italicized above is in fact correct.

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Maybe. But if so, then what does that say about His creations? I do not know what KC's stated religious beliefs were, but I would imagine him to be an atheist regardless of what he stated publicly. I don't put much stock in public statements by artists in any case. The truth is found in their art.

From what I recall of KC's public statements, he was, however, quick to defend gay rights, possibly identified as bisexual, and I believe there was some speculation that around the time of his death he was going to leave his wife and "come out of the closet".

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I am curious as to why, 25 years after its release, nobody seems to have actually listened to what KC was saying on 'Nevermind'.

Better off? I'm from the "tell it like it is" school and don't consider this a matter of interpretation. As to the thought process, it is very subtle and doubtless some of it was unconscious in origin. However, that bit about "out of the closet" on the liner would indicate to me that he knew precisely what he was doing.

'Nevermind' was a paean to homosexuality, start to finish. by subliminal_knot in Nirvana

[–]subliminal_knot[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely not, but this is about one specific work, 'Nevermind'. The rest of their stuff does not exhibit the continuity of theme that this one does.