[pencilneck]

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/43-Courthouse-Dr-Guildhall-VT-05905/193818039_zpid/?mmlb=g,18

There is a lot to love here

[pencilneck]

Hypothetical:

Two contrasting rates and expectations:

30 year @ 2.75% – inflation at 2% annualized with long term expectations in the 2-3% range.

30 year @ 4% – inflation at 7% annualized with long term expectations in the 3-7% range.

Isn’t the second loan less expensive than the first?

[pencilneck]

My advice is to not take it personally. In my opinion, this just means the contractors who you contacted are working.

Based on my limited personal experience with contractors: When they are working they simply don’t return calls. At all.

When they are ready for another job, they will return your call. And probably expect to start working within a few days.

It’s not the way I would run a business. But to be fair, it’s not the kind of business I would run either.

[pencilneck]

There happens to be an awesome local discussion group that generally uses School of Life material as a focal point for the conversations.

School of Life is terrific, but it tends to present a particularly strong view from a single narrow viewpoint of a topic. Whether one agrees or disagrees, it provides fertile ground for conversation.

If you’re interested, Google “Thinking While Drinking” The scheduling is done primarily through Meetup.com.

Currently the discussion are primarily online due to covid. I haven’t attended an online conversation. However, I very much enjoyed the in-person conversations I attended. I’m looking forward to them returning.

[pencilneck]

HIV/AIDS

[pencilneck]

“Previously, in the world of infectious diseases, it has been accepted that a ‘case’ represents someone with symptoms, usually severe symptoms, usually severe enough to be admitted to hospital.”

Nonsense.

HIV positive, for example, is considered a case of infectious disease even when the person shows no symptoms.

I skimmed bits of it, but didn’t read the article.

[pencilneck]

I ponder this once in a while. Or a variation of it.

Traditional monetary theory holds that lower interest rates juice the economy by making borrowing easier. Higher interest rates subdue borrowing and have a dampening effect on the economy.

However, this only works perfectly in closed systems. In global systems some investors can game this by borrowing low in one semi-closed economy and invest in a higher rate area (so-called “carry trades”). If enough money flows to the areas with higher rates, traditional monetary theory will be turned on its head.

[pencilneck]

“This murder might have been committed at a consulate building which may be considered Saudi Arabian land, but it rests within the borders of Turkey,” Mr. Erdogan said, adding that international agreements on the status of consular property “cannot allow the investigation of this murder to be concealed behind the armor of immunity.”

New York Times

[pencilneck]

“All of Salary.com’s data is proprietary and is based on employer-reported data.”

My guess is that the world of voluntary survey data isn’t 100% accurate. My unscientific observation is that individuals with above average characteristics are much more likely to complete the survey than those that are below average.

[pencilneck]

The listing, which includes 15 pictures of the same room, may seem to indicate some sort of bubble. However, with interest rates this low and demand so strong, the market may be able to support listings with up to 19 photos per room.

Time will tell.

[pencilneck]

Am I the only one that likes our electoral college system?

Yeah, I get frustrated when it works against what I feel are my best interests or what my view is the best course for the country. But long term, by somewhat balancing the power between states, the electoral college system works pretty well to give each of our states some voice at the table. Long term, this IS in the best interest of our union.

[pencilneck]

As long as word war III doesn’t escalate too much beyond twitter, we should be ok.

[pencilneck]

Are there that many people with close to $50k in savings that also have $50k student loan debts at 6-7%? The example makes no sense to me. I guess if there are enough of them, this makes sense.

“Here’s how a typical BurkeyMortgage might work: Say the would-be homebuyer is looking at a $500,000 house but has $50,000 in outstanding student loans. He would roll the two amounts into a single mortgage. But he would have to make a down payment of close to $50,000.

That would leave a balance of $500,000, which would be almost equal to a 100% loan-to-value mortgage. The rate on the mortgage would be far less than that on the student loans, which currently run between 6% and 7%.”

I also love how this is a feature. I’m going to start calling all of my credit cards “Life Events” cards too. So much cooler.

“Another loan feature will allow borrowers to temporarily make lower monthly payments for three consecutive months for “life events” such as the birth of a child or a divorce. Of course, interest will continue to accrue during that period, and escrows will be recalculated once the borrower resumes making regular payments.”

[pencilneck]

Saw this posted elsewhere:

Antonin Scalia requested cremation in his will, but millions of women will meet tomorrow to discuss if that’s really best for his body.

[pencilneck]

A definite highlight of my Christmas holiday is always reading David Collum’s Year End Review.

“Scenic vistas from Mount Stupid”
http://www.peakprosperity.com/blog/95808/2015-year-review

He’s very thought provoking, whether or not you agree with him. Very Long, by Internet standards, but well worth the read. Even if you don’t have the time, it’s worth a quick glance for the first chart alone.

Merry Christmas, fellow Pigginton fans.

[Author]

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