Search found 3516 matches

by Caduceus
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:24 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Alibaba & Tencent
Replies: 34
Views: 2619

Re: Alibaba & Tencent

Funny. Since this was posted, Alibaba now has a market cap of 184 billion. Quite a haircut! Must be a lesson in there somewhere, like don't bet on individual stocks! Funny you should post this. Alibaba is now the single largest holding in my portfolio. It's trading at a ridiculous valuation. It has $92 billion in cash/cash-equivalents, which amounts to half of its current market capitalization. If you subtract all of its debt, it has something in the ballpark of $65 billion in net cash. Now, considering it generates about $30B in free cash flow and two-thirds that in normalized net income, it's currently trading at 4x FCF and 6x earnings. But wait ... if you look at the balance sheet, you'll see that Alibaba owns a lot of investments beyon...
by Caduceus
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:07 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: DCA with sell to open puts
Replies: 6
Views: 937

Re: DCA with sell to open puts

Ordinarily, I would not do this. It might be worth it if the volatility is elevated, making your put option premium significant, and if the price of the underlying is elevated (based on a fundamental valuation, like if the P/E ratio is above 20) but is something you still want to buy as an index investor. Selling short-dated put options is a strategy that pays off if your underlying moves within a narrow range. So if VTI sticks to a narrow trading range for your time period, selling put options will possibly be more profitable than owning it outright. But if VTI takes off, buying VTI or VTI call options would have been better. And if VTI falls significantly, buying the put option (rather than selling it) or keeping the money in cash would h...
by Caduceus
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:11 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Softest brand of cotton swabs?
Replies: 0
Views: 124

Softest brand of cotton swabs?

What's the softest brand of pure cotton (100% cotton) cotton swabs you've ever used? I've tried a few brands now and I'm curious why they feel so different even when they are all 100% cotton. Some just feel rougher, and other softer.

I use them for cleaning old photographs and some of the brands are just quite bad. I'm aware of PEC-PADs but those don't lift up embedded dirt the way cotton swabs do.
by Caduceus
Wed Mar 06, 2024 8:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid
Replies: 10
Views: 964

Re: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid

It’s a safer to use IRS DirectPay for an electronic extension with a nominal payment. There’s a chance a paper Form 4868 will get lost/not processed by the IRS given their backlog. If you do file Form 4868 on paper, send it USPS certified mail. One year I filed Form 4868 on paper, filed Form 1040 under extension and later received IRS correspondence saying I had filed late. Luckily I had mailed the extension via USPS certified mail so I could provide the IRS with proof of filing. I took the forum advice and did it online instead. I couldn't be bothered to set up IRS DirectPay so I just used the credit card option instead from the IRS Payments page and sent in a nominal payment of $1. I selected "Form 4868 - Year 2023" and "A...
by Caduceus
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Selling used appliances
Replies: 9
Views: 916

Selling used appliances

Was wondering what folks do here when selling used appliances or if you'd even sell them.

I have some vintage objects (a rain lamp, a water fountain, etc.) that would fetch a couple hundred of dollars each that I want to sell as they're taking too much space. Since they're quite old objects, I was thinking of removing the electrical components (the pump) to remove liability considerations (if it catches fire, etc.) and specifying buyer must replace pump themselves. I myself have had a bad experience with a rain lamp where the pump overheated and caused a blackout shortly after purchase.

I'm alright with taking everything to the dumpster if that still doesn't fly.
by Caduceus
Tue Mar 05, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips for Language Learning (2024)
Replies: 18
Views: 1382

Re: Tips for Language Learning (2024)

Just wanted to add that all the ongoing AI work might also mean that learning languages for functional usage will probably decline.

I remember when I was last in China on a solo backpacking trip, the young people I met had translation apps on their phones that they used to communicate with me. They would speak Chinese into the phone, and the phone would spit out English at me. I'd speak English into the phone, and it would spit Chinese back out at them. There were some hilarious errors, but I wouldn't be surprised if in five or ten years, something like the "universal translator" in the Star Trek universe becomes a reality.
by Caduceus
Tue Mar 05, 2024 3:53 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Tips for Language Learning (2024)
Replies: 18
Views: 1382

Re: Tips for Language Learning (2024)

Unless you're one of those people who are naturally gifted at picking up languages, I think the only thing that is likely to work is to live in an environment where actively using the language is actually necessary. I say that as someone who at various points of my life was proficient - at different levels - in Greek, Latin, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Tagalog. I consider myself only proficient in two of these at this point, and probably barely. Strangely enough, I can still remember most of the Latin rules. All those drills when I was younger humming Latin declensions ... argh. I did everything from language classes in college, self-learning aids (like Pimsleur), language buddies, immersion programs, etc. Unless you're naturally ...
by Caduceus
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:30 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid
Replies: 10
Views: 964

Re: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid

toddthebod wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:23 pm
Your estimated income taxes means the estimated amount due with your return, not quarterly estimated taxes. Also there's this other clause:
Ah, alright, I got it. Thank you. I will mail that Form 4868 then.

Much appreciated!
by Caduceus
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Mid-career change to law?
Replies: 127
Views: 11684

Re: Mid-career change to law?

Couple of red flags. "Always dreamed of attending law school" is the first. It's really vague and does not seem at all connected to the reality and specifics of law, as law is a really big field. I think if you say you've always wanted to argue constitutional cases before the Supreme Court, or if you've always wanted to be a hot-shot entertainment lawyer representing popstars, or if you've always wanted to be a prosecutor specializing in financial crimes, etc., then it would make sense. How sure are you that your fantasy of being a lawyer measures up to the reality of everyday legal work? Most of the lawyers I know do not like their jobs at all. And most of them don't currently earn $400k or have a chance of reaching $600k. Maybe ...
by Caduceus
Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid
Replies: 10
Views: 964

Re: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid

Hmm, it says so right on the first page: "You don’t need to file Form 4868 if you make a payment using our electronic payment options. The IRS will automatically process an extension of time to file when you pay part or all of your estimated income tax electronically. You can pay online ... " Am I misunderstanding something here? So if I've already paid estimated taxes in at least one quarter (I did so in at least one quarter for 2023), does this mean I don't need to file Form 4868 since I've already paid part of my estimated income taxes? It doesn't sound the taxpayer has to pay in full for the extension to work. The instructions specifically say in "part." I think I'm just going to send off a paper Form 4868 anyway sin...
by Caduceus
Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid
Replies: 10
Views: 964

Automatic extension for tax filing if estimated taxes paid

I was reading the instructions for Form 4868 and it says I do not need to file for an extension to file taxes (extension deadline is October 2024) if I've paid part or all of my estimated taxes online.

I paid estimated taxes one of the quarters online using one of the IRS third-party vendors and my credit card. It was either for the third or fourth quarter.

Does this mean I do not need to file Form 4868 and can simply assume my deadline to file my tax return is now October 2024?

This is news to me ... I've been filing Form 4868 via paper mail all these years even when I've paid estimated taxes!
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Has passive investing broken the market?
Replies: 136
Views: 16396

Re: Has passive investing broken the market?

1. Even as passive investing has grown, it has effectively no impact on price discovery. See Vanguard's analysis: https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/a-drop-in-the-bucket-indexings-share-of-u.s.-trading-activity-us-isgindx_032019_online.pdf 2. I see no difference in letting Vanguard vote at shareholder meetings instead of Simplify Asset Management or other active fund managers. Also Vanguard manages a lot of active funds, so this argument is really a red herring. Thanks for the link. I have been curious how much of trading volume can be attributed to passive investing. I wouldn't have guessed less than 5% (which is what the paper says). If that's true, then yes, having index investors simply accept prevailing marke...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you pro-actively replace old SIM cards?
Replies: 14
Views: 2147

Do you pro-actively replace old SIM cards?

I noticed that my SIM card is getting a little scratched up, with the gold area getting quite dark (or maybe it's just gone). Do folks here just swap out for a new SIM when that happens?

I'm asking because I'm on a pre-paid plan, and if my current SIM fails, I'm curious how they will be able to verify I'm the rightful owner of the same number should I order a new SIM but want the same number back. I don't think I ever gave the phone company my social.
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What frugal thing did you do today?
Replies: 4522
Views: 617063

Re: What frugal thing did you do today?

I sold a bunch of childhood toys today and over the last few days. I was very surprised at how much vintage toys fetch. Action figures (even damaged ones) went for $60-$70 each. Someone offered $300 for a mint condition Diablo II box set. I sold/donated two containers of random knickknacks after taking photos of them - it occurred to me that it doesn't really make sense to become sentimentally attached to things that were made in China just because someone I love/loved saw it in a store and bought it for me. So I kept only the stuff I really loved and sold a lot of stuff in lots at huge discounts for a quick sale. Made a couple of hundred dollars from what otherwise looked like junk. My motivation was just re-housing the toys as I was still...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:20 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: FIRE vs Loving your work
Replies: 101
Views: 8356

Re: FIRE vs Loving your work

Unlike some of the other posters, most of the people I know who can't bear the thought of retiring are folks whose identity is very much intertwined with their work. They like the hobnobbing, being thought of as someone, being "in the know," or being thought of as an expert etc. Sure, maybe the work is challenging and fun ... but I find it very hard to believe that on their deathbed, they would have preferred to spend one more minute working a fun/challenging job rather than, I don't know, exploring Istanbul, reading a good book, having more sex, reading another book, etc. The only exception to this are the academics I know - I think my friends who are academics would probably be doing what they did regardless ... (maybe not the t...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:04 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: How to implement S&P Leap strategy?
Replies: 32
Views: 6601

Re: How to implement S&P Leap strategy?

If I were in your situation, I would do no such thing, in large part because I don't think the S&P is trading at sufficiently depressed levels to attempt a strategy like this. I don't believe in valuation-agnostic strategies when it comes to options. You only have, say, maybe 2 years or so to get the direction of your bet right, and doing it when the underlying is already over-valued or just fairly valued strikes me as insane. You could easily lose all your money even if you correctly identified an undervalued underlying because markets can stay irrational longer than your constantly time-decaying options portfolio can survive. If you insist on doing something like this, I'd start out only with deep in the money LEAPs, and make sure to ...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:47 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why does the stock market go down after some bad news?
Replies: 35
Views: 3071

Re: Why does the stock market go down after some bad news?

I think it's because there are sufficient short-term oriented traders who are trying to make very quick profits. As long as there are groups of people like that, then there will be gyrations in stock prices in response to "good" or "bad" news/expectations. If all the stock holders were buy-and-hold investors, there would be no price movement if the news didn't actually affect the long-term prospects of the company. I don't think the causal link is always so strong though. I can't count the number of times I've been surprised by the way the market is responding to some news. Oftentimes, what the market is responding to is expectations. So if it expects a company to do well, and a company posts good earnings, but ones that...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Just for fun, what single stock do you think will see huge growth
Replies: 174
Views: 27377

Re: Just for fun, what single stock do you think will see huge growth

If by growth you mean returns (as opposed to growth in profits/net income), I would say BABA. When you subtract its net cash (cash net of debt) and equity investments from its market capitalization, you'll see that it's trading at about 2x cash flow and about 3x normalized net income. I think that's fairly insane. Even with China's depressed stock market, many of its small caps or other large tech/consumer stocks are not trading at similar valuations. Indeed, many of China's companies are still trading at similar/elevated valuations compared to, say, large U.S./European banks or regional U.S. banks, but the stock valuation for Alibaba just strikes me as completely out of touch with reality. I am sure it must have happened before, but I can'...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Impact of banning net stock sales during opening and closing
Replies: 0
Views: 881

Impact of banning net stock sales during opening and closing

China just banned net sales of stocks for large funds/institutions in the opening and closing 30 minutes of each trading day. I'm quite curious what they hope to accomplish by this and what the theoretical/practical impact of such a move would be for investors. Wouldn't any large moves just be postponed to 30 minutes later, or is there something special they think is going on during this time frame (e.g. like market manipulation?) Or is the theory about "anchoring" - depriving large funds, especially short-sellers from being able to control the narrative/direction of the stock market through massive stock sales early in the trading day, thereby influencing other investors? The quant fund that they just sanctioned (Lingjun Investme...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689758

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

I watched the first episode of From, and do not recommend it. So gory and unnecessary. I had nightmares from it.
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?
Replies: 115
Views: 10471

Re: Law School Debt: Is It Worth It?

Taking the debt to go to a better law school will probably be worth it if you stay in law for quite a while. But if you're one of the many lawyers who start practicing law and then realize it's not their cup of tea ... that debt will be a huge burden. So it's a very personal question that I think depends on how sure you are that this is the career path for you. I have a lot of artsy friends who weren't good in math or science but great at writing and analysis ... went into law as an obvious path (money, prestige, intellectual challenge), etc., and then found out after that it was a totally bad fit. A lot of my friends who went to law school aren't practicing law any more. But on the other hand, the ones who made it big all invariably went t...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wine - what are we paying more for … ?
Replies: 185
Views: 32752

Re: Wine - what are we paying more for … ?

I think the kind of people who can tell good wine from bad wine are akin to the people who can smell a fragrance and tell you exactly what the base notes, middle notes, top notes are. Most people can't do it. It's an acquired skill and comes more easily to some than others.

One of my ex-boyfriends came from money in France. He made a point of buying $10 bottles of wine at the supermarket to go with quite expensive food at all the pretentious dinner parties he hosted where people talked philosophy and politics.

But, fwiw, I'm the sort of person who thinks all wine/beer tastes like piss.
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 07, 2024 5:05 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]
Replies: 5249
Views: 899875

Re: What are you up YTD? [Year To Date]

I am down about 3% YTD, but down about 18% if counting from the last quarter of 2023. I bought a lot of Chinese stocks fourth quarter of 2023 and even more LEAPs options on Chinese stocks in 2024. Some of the companies are trading at ridiculous valuations, so in spite of the geopolitical risks (very real but a little exaggerated), I have been tempted to put a good chunk of my portfolio in a few Chinese companies. Some of it is in a large-cap company trading at two times free cash flow and 3.5 times net income, after subtracting net cash and accounting for equity investments at only 50% of carrying value. Some of it is in a micro-cap company that's carrying essentially no debt and trading at half of the cash it has in the bank, plus it has e...
by Caduceus
Wed Feb 07, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"
Replies: 77
Views: 13598

Re: How old were you when you hit the "No-Go Years?"

I am curious if the age that you look accurately reflects your "biological" age for those who hit their "no-go" years later/earlier. I read an article which says that younger-looking people (this has to be objectively determined by strangers) are actually biologically younger, in the sense that people who look younger really are ageing more slowly
by Caduceus
Sat Feb 03, 2024 11:14 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: basement storage techniques
Replies: 29
Views: 2652

Re: basement storage techniques

My default storage is using airtight containers and silica gel packets that I change every few months, or sometimes if I forget, at least once a year. Keeps me from having humidity issues with items or having to run a dehumidifier as intensively. Moisture and pest damage are the main issues for things you only occasionally access. Paper and textiles will attract insects, so airtight containers are hassle-free. But it's better to just discard things you don't want. Over time, I've realized that a lot of things I'm storing I will never use again. Let's say you're 50. How many years do you really have left given an average life expectancy? You have to be brutally honest - will you really read all those books you have in the storage bins, or pl...
by Caduceus
Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: China trip paranoia [visa requirements]
Replies: 68
Views: 6435

Re: China trip paranoia

If you're that worried, just ship your electronic devices home prior to entering China and use a cheap burner device while you're there (or just go without a device for the few days). The only precautions I took in China were taking a burner phone and not having sex in any of their hotels after I'd read several articles about many hotels, particularly those being catered to foreign tourists, being bugged with spycams. Or you could turn the lights off and do the deed. But otherwise, I just totally enjoyed myself and had a good time. It would be a pity for you to not see some amazing sights if some simple precautions are all you have to take. A lot of Chinese people use VPNs. You'd be surprised at how much Western media - both low-brow (like ...
by Caduceus
Sat Feb 03, 2024 10:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165352

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

I received a text message saying the mail carrier missed me as I wasn't at home to sign for the package, and then it provided a link for me to go input my details. The website looked very convincing but I stopped myself because I wasn't expecting any packages so realized it had to be fake. Not sure what the point was as the scam website didn't ask for too much detail. But I will say it's the closest I've come to falling for a scam. Everyone should sign up for the tracking services for USPS, UPS and Fedex: USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, and Fedex Delivery Manager. With those services, you will receive tracking emails or texts for deliveries, including ones sent to you by someone else (such as a relative sending you an unexpected gif...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:50 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advice with credit card debt while traveling.
Replies: 27
Views: 2308

Re: Advice with credit card debt while traveling.

See if you can do a balance transfer to a 0% APR card. $2000 budget for a few months in Europe sounds very implausible. The Bogleheads can be extremely conservative, so let me give you a different take. It seems from your post that you have a spate of free time, and that you will eventually have income rolling in. So I would say take the chance and really have an adventure - don't skip out on an experience in Europe just because it will cost you a few tens of dollars more. If you're already going to take the trip, then actually go have a good time (within reason). Once you start working full-time, it will be time you are short of and money that you'll be swimming in. So keep the $6000 in cash, accept that you'll be paying some interest on t...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:40 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [On-going Scams - Post them here]
Replies: 1372
Views: 165352

Re: [On-going Scams - Post them here]

I received a text message saying the mail carrier missed me as I wasn't at home to sign for the package, and then it provided a link for me to go input my details. The website looked very convincing but I stopped myself because I wasn't expecting any packages so realized it had to be fake.

Not sure what the point was as the scam website didn't ask for too much detail. But I will say it's the closest I've come to falling for a scam.
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:35 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How do you retire when you love your work?
Replies: 163
Views: 12984

Re: How do you retire when you love your work?

It's really cool that you love your job as much as you do. Since you're a surgeon, I'm wondering if that's in part because you haven't had the time to explore hobbies outside of work? It sounds like a demanding career and maybe you've just never had the time to acquire interests/passions that you would only encounter/experience with more free time. The only reason I say that is that while I like the work I do, I would definitely prefer to spend 100% of my time just pursuing my hobbies. There's so many more books to read, so many good games to play, tv shows to watch, beautiful cities to explore, beautiful places to eat at, etc., that in the time I have left I would prefer not to spend a single minute working if I can help it. Once I hit my ...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?
Replies: 36
Views: 4966

Re: First time Amtrak train ride. Is there anything I should know?

I find it hard to stare at screens or read books on moving trains as I find that I get headaches fairly quickly. So on my long-haul train rides, I've always taken things to do that don't require focusing my eyes on a particular object. Listening to music and audiobooks for example. I bring a pair of waterproof Crocs that I use for the shared bathrooms - easily washable and I can slip those into a plastic bag after using them for jaunts to the loo (not always the cleanest place on trains as you will be stepping on liquids of all sorts ...) I also bring earphones even if I don't actually use them - they are for when I don't want to be engaged in conversation with friendly strangers in communal areas. When you put those on, people don't bother...
by Caduceus
Thu Feb 01, 2024 12:05 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 10828

Re: Best tours for China?

he best meal I ever had in China was in a village that wasn't even on a map. I got invited to a wedding lunch that just so happened to be taking place that day in the communal hall. For a red packet of 100 yuan (red packet conveniently provided by a friendly neighbor), I sat down with a bunch of strangers and ate a 30-course meal. They were using enamel bowls and plates from the 1980s-1990s. Best pictures too ... instagrammable and all that. Hah, I recall reading about something like this in Peter Hessler's book Country Driving , on his self-guided road trip in China. i cannot referene the exact writing, but he apparently had many deals by dropping in at funeral banquets along the road, and he was welcomed to do so. Thanks for the book ref...
by Caduceus
Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Anything Besides Facebook Marketplace? Sell Unwanted Stuff Around the house
Replies: 21
Views: 2159

Re: Anything Besides Facebook Marketplace? Sell Unwanted Stuff Around the house

For unique items, you'd probably get most money from Ebay. Otherwise, I'd just set a reasonable dollar cut-off and gift/recycle things. Personally, I would not bother selling anything below $20. Anything from $20-50 I would bother selling unless very convenient and didn't require shipping/packing.

Don't turn this into a full-time job (the mistake I made when decluttering many years back). I regret spending so much time on it. Just toss/recycle things and only sell the easy/high-value things.
by Caduceus
Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best cloud storage service
Replies: 11
Views: 1333

Best cloud storage service

I don't quite understand the various cloud services (Google Photos, icloud, dropbox) even after looking at their plans and subscriptions. I want it to serve two functions only. First would be to easily transfer photos and videos from/to a new Ipad that I just bought. Second would be to archive a set of photographs on the cloud. My understanding is Apple's icloud is pure syncing only - so it seems that's out of the question for me since if I accidentally delete a photo on my Ipad/Iphone then it disappears from the cloud too (right? Or is there some way icloud works more like a backup drive?). I actually like Apple the best as all my devices are apple already, although I'm only two weeks old to icloud. For just these two purposes, and for not...
by Caduceus
Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:34 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 10828

Re: Best tours for China?

We visited China for 7 weeks a few years ago. We didn't travel with a group. We stayed at a mix of AirBnBs and hotels. Most places were just OK, and some were pretty bad. Like at one there were roaches, and someone (probably a worker) would slip cards for prostitutes under our door. The best hotels were at Western chains, like Sheraton or Pullman. I had the same experience too, although instead of prostitute calling cards, the receptionist outright asked me if I wanted "special massage services" at the check-in and recommended several pretty girls. When I said no, she asked if I wanted "handsome young man" instead. The first question didn't faze me. But the second stunned me. If you travel alone as a single young man, y...
by Caduceus
Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 10828

Re: Best tours for China?

I think you're trying to do too much in a relatively short time. Might be a good idea to just pick one city or two and spend the bulk of your time there. You might not need a tour for one city, although you can try to hire a good local tour guide. Please don't go there and spend all your time eating in swanky restaurants. That would be just plain silly. Go experience the street food and eat like the locals do. And don't avoid "rural" areas - some of the best history/architecture/culture is there. The best meal I ever had in China was in a village that wasn't even on a map. I got invited to a wedding lunch that just so happened to be taking place that day in the communal hall. For a red packet of 100 yuan (red packet conveniently p...
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:12 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How to record phonecall on Iphone?
Replies: 5
Views: 949

How to record phonecall on Iphone?

Is there a simple way (preferably one-click button type method) to record phonecalls on my Iphone? Maybe there's some app I can download? I read that Apple itself doesn't allow you to do it using its software.
by Caduceus
Wed Jan 10, 2024 12:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?
Replies: 38
Views: 5195

Re: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?

Forgot to add: Some good books you can read before and during your trip.

Istanbul: Memories and the City (Orhan Pamuk)
Istanbul: The Imperial City (John Freely)
A Short History of Byzantium (John Julius Norwich)

And I think the best guidebook to Istanbul is the "Blue Guide Istanbul." It isn't flashy, so you won't find lots of photos (and that's one reason why so few people use it), but it's really great for essential information in a pinch.
by Caduceus
Wed Jan 10, 2024 12:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?
Replies: 38
Views: 5195

Re: 9-10 days in Turkey - where would you spend it?

If it were me and I only had 10 days, I'd spend all of it in Istanbul. I spent a few months there and barely scratched the surface. Istanbul is "uber" historic - it's particularly rich in terms of all the things you could be doing even when compared to the other usual famous cities. Once you move out of Istanbul, a lot of the time is going to be spent on transit time, which isn't very efficient for a short trip. Top on my list would be visiting the Chora Church. That will take you half a day at least. You can read up on the history and the mosaics before going so that you can truly appreciate what you're seeing. (You can do probably do the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern on the same day if you're on such a compressed time frame....
by Caduceus
Mon Jan 08, 2024 5:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Do I have to send in 1040-ES if I pay online?
Replies: 2
Views: 492

Do I have to send in 1040-ES if I pay online?

I had some late-arriving income and will need to pay estimated taxes. If I pay online using one of the credit card options (I have a high cash-back card that more than covers the cost charged by IRS' third party processors), do I still have to mail in the 1040-ES form? Or is the online payment itself sufficient for estimated payment purposes?
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: your system for reviewing credit card transactions
Replies: 86
Views: 9309

Re: your system for reviewing credit card transactions

I used to be extremely anal about it, but have relaxed somewhat over the years. Fraudulent charges are easy to spot because they've all happened at places I don't shop at. And what I'm worried about - inaccurate billing from a merchant I did purchase from - has never happened. So what I do now is a combination of a few things. I will carry cash and pay cash for small purchases. If the bill is less than $20, I'll usually just pay cash. I don't keep receipts for things I pay in cash. I don't like getting a fat wallet stuffed full of receipts that I'll have to review and the small amount of cash-back I'm missing out on doesn't bother me. My credit card statement is probably 40% shorter without all the random every day small purchases clogging ...
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Board Games for Two in 2024
Replies: 52
Views: 6339

Re: Board Games for Two in 2024

Have you tried Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective? It's a collaborative game (best played 1-4 persons) where you work together to solve a mystery. You get a very detailed map of London, an initial case scenario, newspapers that are brilliantly written to reflect what it was like in Victorian London, and you try to solve the mystery together by going to different places, deciding which clues might be better or not, which persons to visit ... and what each new snippet of information you uncover means. It's the best game I've ever played in my life. I'm really bad at it (I tend to fall for all the red herrings that pop up). My husband and I play it together - it takes 1.5 - 3 hours usually and it's quite "romantic" in the sense th...
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:12 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?
Replies: 657
Views: 133024

Re: What is the Worst Financial Decision/Mistake You Have Made?

My worst financial decisions were ones of omission, not of commission. I tend to sit on decisions, so there've been a couple of times where I've identified literal investment gold mines, but didn't invest as much as I should have, or sat on them for months while doing more and more research, and then years later they go up ten times, twenty times.
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 05, 2024 2:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Marriage tax penalty and getting a prenup in early 30s
Replies: 121
Views: 17159

Re: Marriage tax penalty and getting a prenup in early 30s

I don't think you can guard against people changing or "worst-case scenarios," so perhaps the question should be whether you'd still be willing to get married if the worst-case scenario happens. In other words, if in 10 years time, you or your spouse changes, and it's an extremely ugly divorce with lawyers involved, what would that look like? Think about what a "worst case" looks like ... and then what a "likely case" looks like. Assess your risks, and then accept you can't make a perfect decision, and make that decision as a couple. I think you should consult a lawyer. Whatever that costs will be worth it in terms of laying out options, general considerations, and so on. Try to look at it rationally in terms o...
by Caduceus
Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Finding cost effective mid-tier colleges (Computer Science)
Replies: 164
Views: 25520

Re: Finding cost effective mid-tier colleges (Computer Science)

I think you should also look at things outside of "curriculum" or "academic" considerations when making your decision. The quality of teaching has nothing to do with the ranking of a college. In my experience, the top schools probably have worse teachers on average. I had professors who were at the top of their field who were astonishingly bad at teaching college kids. A lot of academics at top tier research institutions won't prioritize teaching (even if they claim that they do) because a lot of other things matter more to them - research, conferences, serving on committees, etc. You should probably look at things like whether the school has a history of sending its CS graduates into good jobs (their placement record), ...
by Caduceus
Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is package lost or just delayed?
Replies: 8
Views: 1201

Re: Is package lost or just delayed?

The Bogleheads are my lucky charm. Very shortly after I posted here, there was an arrival destination scan in Australia. It was "processed through facility" (whatever that means) in Australia and is "on transit to destination" so I am hoping it will arrive today or tomorrow. More than 7 weeks now ... !

Appreciate all the responses.
by Caduceus
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Is package lost or just delayed?
Replies: 8
Views: 1201

Is package lost or just delayed?

I seldom send international parcels so am not quite sure if this is par for the course. I bought an item online and sent it to a friend in Australia for Christmas on Nov 15. The seller used a shipping service called Asendia. The last tracking update says "Departed Chicago" on Nov 28, and then it's just been a big blank.

Is this normal or can I assume the package has been lost? 6 weeks seems like an unreasonable amount of time but maybe that's because I don't send parcels often. The seller wants me to wait another month before issuing a refund.
by Caduceus
Mon Dec 25, 2023 3:59 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to vet a CPA?
Replies: 12
Views: 1536

How to vet a CPA?

My tax situation is a little complex this year, so am thinking of using a CPA for the first time. I've located one - found him online, and then had a fairly long conversation on the phone (free). I'm thinking of hiring him but am wondering if there's a further way to make sure he's a legitimate CPA. Is there some kind of registration number I can ask for? Or some other way? Or is it common these days for people to just hire CPAs and give out social security numbers and important financial info like this? It's a fairly niche tax situation and he clearly knows what he's talking about, so logically the chances of this being a scam are quite low. But he's not located in the same state as I am and there's no way to physically verify that he has ...
by Caduceus
Sun Dec 03, 2023 3:25 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]
Replies: 5973
Views: 689758

Re: [What TV Show Have You Recently Watched?]

I highly recommend The Doll Factory. The period set of 19th century London is so atmospheric and simply amazing. I'm not quite sure where the plot is going, but that doesn't even matter to me. Every single second is an excess of sensory delight. I'm halfway through it and already sad it will end soon.

Also, Sky Castle, which is a Korean drama. I'm a late convert to kdramas but they're so addictive.
by Caduceus
Sun Dec 03, 2023 3:20 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Gmail - tips for organizing
Replies: 28
Views: 5868

Re: Gmail - tips for organizing

I organize at source. I give out one email address to shopping websites, another to personal contacts, etc. So they are already automatically sorted by category when I open each email account. It also helps a lot with spam. Only the shopping email address gets an insane amount of spam. The rest of my emails are pristine.