News:

To return to the forum homepage, please click the banner at the top of your browser.

Main Menu

Recent posts

#61
Current Events / Re: Artificial Intelligence.. ...
Last post by Ocko - January 28, 2021, 01:05:48 PM
I see a future where an organic seed neuro network (OSNN) or essentially a slave AI is assigned at birth to every child with the directive of forming a symbiotic relationship, emulating in all regards the child's consciousness, and growing with the child in depth and complexity through adolescence, adulthood and ultimately onto the death of the physical body.

There are many examples throughout science fiction literature of augmented human conscience with thinking machines. These examples range from Orson Scott Cards trans-species, computer-in-habiting, deus ex machina character of Jane. To the Brain Palâ„¢ organic computers in the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi.

I'd also like to point out the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. As these novels feature companion entities to humans that fall somewhere in between the near-omnipotence hyper-intelligences and simple calculators. These creatures, daemons, to use the author's terminology, I feel, are as near to what we could expect from a modern-day implementation say in the next ten years of a OSNN like technology. The OSNNs would be an extension of the human consciences and would have a persona of their own, with the ability to act independently.

Which brings me to my next point, what happens if and when an OSNN crosses the singularity point and begins to act hostile toward humans? In fiction, it rarely bodes well for the humans when there are a bunch of murder machines on the loose. There is usually a bit of a power struggle before one of both of the sides end up as ionizing radiation, or they come to the realization that conflict is a waste of time and decide to walk off into the sunset, that is of course precluding anything crazy like exploding the sun...

To continue there are as before many instances of AI causing a ruckus to the denizens of fantasy. With no particular example in mind you are free to pick your favorite machine with a beef against humanity. I'll list a few for your reference: HAL-9000, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), the WOPR a.k.a Joshua from WarGames (1983), Skynet, The Terminator (1984). GLaDOS, Portal (2007) and the Shrike from the Hyperion novels by Dan Simmons.

In fiction an evil AI in nothing more than a tool used by authors and story tellers to explore the darker nature of the human psyche. And what is explained in fiction as a struggle between good and evil will be woefully inadequate to explain the first true interaction between humans and AI.

OSNN or AI will be a tool at first, later an enemy then a friend and finally they will be indistinguishable from one human to the next. When we are faced with the decision on how we choose to handle AI, let's try and walk down the middle of the road with AI as our as partners and friends. 
#62
My Ameriprise Dec. statement has a balance of $515,000 and the fees are $626. This fee is the MONTHLY fee. This is a new account that I rolled from a 457 to this IRA account with Ameriprise. Fees are done on a monthly bases on the new balance. This seems extremely high. What are your opinions? Thanks
#63
Stocks And Index Funds / Re: Active Trader Thread To Ma...
Last post by lera17 - January 26, 2021, 01:00:08 AM
The best way to make money is to play at the casino. Yes, just a couple of months ago, I would say that this is nonsense, but you just have to try it as you really understand that this is one of the most effective methods of making money.
All that is needed is just to choose the right casino, where they will not cheat and cheat. The site https://casinosnotongamstop.info/ helped me  I got enough information about different casinos there and began to play quietly for my own pleasure and earn money.
#64
Stocks And Index Funds / Re: Motley Fool
Last post by Jbinjville - January 24, 2021, 12:05:03 PM
Well it's been a year since i jumped in deep into Motley Fool with my investment in Cloud Disruptors so i'll give another update.  My total investment in the Cloud Disruptor currently is $69,261 with a current value of $118,968, up almost 72% in a year.  All together i have $330K invested at different times last year in several MF portfolios, combined they're up just over 77% for a paper profit of $256K far exceeding my expectations.  The cool thing is that 70% of the profit is in Roth IRA's.   I hope my posts on this subject have helped other investors in this Forum.
#65
At first, you should count approximate charges in the coming years. As I understand, you have small children? Kindergarten and school consume A LOT (sometimes enough to refuse a property)
I'm not an expert but look for living examples of how to count expenses at https://fitmymoney.com/how-to-buy-a-home/. It helped me to define what rates you can pay.
#66
PanadaAtlanta - Those are pretty good rates for investment property.

I'm in the process of refinancing my first house and was able to secure 1.875% for 15 year fixed (no fees/no points). I think its a great time to lock these rates. FS also mentioned in one of his newsletters.
#67
Hi Sam and everyone,

My sister and I need to sell my mom's townhome in the bay area (California) to provide her cash for assisted living. The townhome is probably going to sell around $1.1M-$1.2M (no mortgage). Her facility costs $10k+/- per month. We are not too worried about her running out of money as she has other assets offshore. But it's easier for us to sell the house now to convert to cash and buy us a few years time.

Now, my wife and mine income combined ($170k per year) would max out at around $1M purchase price or less. And honestly I don't want to go anywhere near that price as the mortgage burden is too huge. A relative suggests that I can still buy my mom's townhome as a discounted price, a price that I can afford, since it is my mom. Let's say I buy it for $800k, our monthly payment would still be $4.5k+/- (PITI HOA PMI), which honestly is still really high for me.

The question is, should I buy it say around $800k? One thing to keep in mind is that my sister and I don't have the best relationship and so that itself is a hurdle on its own. I think she'd do it but it could increase friction for us.

The discount and the fact that it is in the bay area is the main reason I am considering buying.

My wife and I are in our early 30s with combined net worth of $1M+/-. Current I have $100k+ cash before having to sell other houses/stocks. Currently we have little monthly debt, just $1.5k on our primary home in Texas, and we enjoy having the extra cash to either save them or do things that we enjoy (such as travel). Obviously if I should buy the townhome this would change our lifestyle quite a bit. We were planning moving to CA to be closer with my mom anyway, but I was going to cap renting at $3k/month.

Thank you so much in advance!
#68
Automobiles / Re: Anybody have an electric v...
Last post by Money Ronin - January 08, 2021, 04:26:15 PM
I'm not excited by most affordable E vehicles, but I am excited by the Mustang Mach-E.  It seems utilitarian enough for a family, and very sporty.  My hang up is this is the first production year.

Also, I can't justify the premium for an E vehicle since I no longer drive much working from home.  I'm saving the environment by not driving.  I've got a 2021 Corvette on order so I can have something pretty to look at in my garage.

Perhaps Financial Samurai will do an article on the cost benefit analysis of owning an E vehicle.
#69
Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares C...
Last post by berkel - January 05, 2021, 08:25:16 AM
Got an update from RS on the Castle Court Apartments Seattle 2nd Lien Tranche 2 deal and "gasp", a payment:

IRM has agreed to a 4th amendment to the business loan agreement and modification to promissory note for a loan extension from 10/01/20 to 12/18/21. This extension was made in order to have co-terminus terms with the senior lender.

The terms of this agreement are as follows:

1. The current fixed interest rate of 12.0% increased to 15.0% and will accrue from 12/18/20 to 12/18/21.
2. The Borrower paid the past-due interest owed from 05/01/20 to 12/18/20.
3. The Borrower made a principal paydown of $500k, reducing the remaining principal from $2,129,000 to $1,629,000.
4. The borrower paid an extension fee of $16,290 or 1.00% of the loan principal balance.


I went to my account that is linked to RS and lo and behold there was a deposit of $3075.50!

I reconciled it as follows:

Principal paydown of ~23.5% from $10K to $7,651.48
Interest of $726.99 for the period from 5/1/2020 to 12/18/2020

Hopefully they make the rest of the payments and I get out of this one without any losses.

My last open deal is unfortunately from FG (AFC in Largo, FL), but not a lot of hope that I'll get any of the remaining ~$2700 in principal. 


#70
Automobiles / Re: Anybody have an electric v...
Last post by Kerplink - January 02, 2021, 12:09:26 AM
I'll be getting an e-bike this year but I haven't finished researching them and they keep getting better! I tend to research the death out of anything I buy or invest in.

We bought a Model 3 in 2018 and it was so much better than any gas car we've ever had we bought another one a few months later. 2 1/2 years later all they have needed is tires. Brakes are still like new and so glad to not have schedule oil and filter changes (or do it myself). I like doing my own work but it's even better to just delete it in the first place.

No service, no repairs, no gas stations, and they drive like cars from the future! I've had some pretty nice European gas cars but I could never go back to them again. Finally I can buy American and get a superior product!