Parsad

You may be right...but at the same time, BRK is no longer Buffett's BRK that we knew. Corporate governance will always be better than the average company, but it will almost be impossible to fully preserve Buffett's culture...or Prem's for that matter Fairfax when he retires. Founders just have a different view of their artwork than others...if you didn't build it, it's very hard to find someone who will treat it exactly the same...just like your kids! Cheers!

Not coming around to MAGA...but do agree with some things, like this: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rfk-jr-says-wants-dunkin-175507006.html Don't like brain worm guy, but there are a lot of things about diet (all across North America) that needs to be fixed to some degree...especially in the restaurant/fast food sector. When I was 13, today's appetizer plate was the dinner plate and the largest burger you could get was a Big Mac (550 calories) unless you went to a diner that put 2-3 patties on a bun. Milkshakes were the most unhealthy thing you could drink and less than 500 calories as well. Today, the average mixed drink at Dunkin's or Starbucks is a large drink, with tons of sugar and fat, and probably comes in at 750 calories plus. The average mixed coffee drink! It's got more to do with portion size than anything else, but we are killing out kids! I find when I order off of Denny's 55+ menu, I can barely finish that plate of food now...I can only imagine ordering the Grand Slam off the regular menu which is like twice the size and calories. Cheers!

I have a few cards (personal, personal holding company, companies I run, etc). For the personal stuff...I have both Visa and MC because they have two different reward/insurance programs. For the companies...they are all Visas to keep it simple at the same bank. I used to have a personal Amex for a few years, but the lack of places I could use it, relative to the Platinum fee charged...just couldn't justify it as frugal consumer. I kept looking at the annual fee and said this is just stupid...switched to the Canadian Black Amex (not the invite one, the other one)...lower fee, some similar insurance/rewards...for a much lower fee. Again, with the lack of places to use it other than restaurants, couldn't justify that either and got rid of it. At the end of the day, there was zero reason for me to have an Amex! Cheers!

Cubs knew it...he knew you were antifa! But small "a" antifa...not big "A"! Does anyone else get turned on by Bondi when she's angry in court? Cheers!

Hmmm...thanks! Cheers!

Abel is in a unique position now...the only person ever to run Berkshire outside of Buffett! The expectations and responsibilities cannot be higher. So in this type of position, you are damned if you do, damned if you don't. We had people on here saying...I hope he buys stock with his massive salary. Well, now he said he will buy/invest in BRK stock with his after-tax salary as long as he works for Berkshire...all of it...that could be a couple of decades or longer. So, now we complain about transparency, something weird, they didn't give us time, Buffett wouldn't do that...this is what happens in these cases. If you've been a shareholder for a couple of decades, you should have known when to buy. I loaded up a large slug two days ago and said on here I thought it was getting cheaper! We are talking about a public company...they aren't going to come out and signal to us ahead of time...ok, go have your fill. It's up to the investor to ultimately make that calculation and decision. Cheers!

Yes, I forgot about Google Search! Bing just sucks...and the AI searches sometimes provide too much detail or compilation. At least for now, I would have to turn away $10K for some Google products. I also prefer Google Meet, Chrome and Maps. Cheers!

By the way...you probably know better than me...but Cobs has their awesome hot-cross buns out right now for Easter. Four different flavours...my favorite is the Apple Cinnamon one. Brought some fresh on Saturday morning to have with my coffee! Cheers!

Cobs Bread?! I like their bread too, but definitely would take the $10K and find another bakery. I don't use any Apple products other than the iPhone. It's so integral to my daily life, virtually every family member has one, that I would probably turn the $10K away. Broker, Cable Company...I've been with the same ones for nearly 20 years...but I probably would not give up $10K to stay solely with either of them. Not sure I could give up a Filet-o-Fish for the rest of my life...may have to turn away McDonald's $10K. Kerry Gold Irish Butter...have not been able to find a suitable replacement anywhere in Canada or the U.S....bye-bye $10K! Visa or Mastercard...if I had to shun both and go to Amex...probably turn the $10K away. Just not enough places take Amex. Cheers!

Just 1...I still own a dictionary. Cheers!

Yup. It was one of my favorite things to do with my father. We would make a trip every couple of months on a Saturday morning, drop by the Pop Shoppe depot, I would get to select a few bottles and then go on with the rest of our grocery shopping trip! I was maybe around 5-6...until I was 8 or 9. At that point, the big 2 L bottles of soft drinks were available at your local grocery store. Cheers!

We didn't have one of those, but I remember when my parents had to lift the receiver on their rotary phone, talk to the operator, and have a call put through...both locally in Vancouver in my early years...and always for International calls till I was about 10. Cheers!

Same. How about bought soda pop out of a vending machine/freezer where the glass bottles sat in ice cold water? You would have to pull it out of the water, and then the clerk hands you a small towel to dry the bottle! Cheers!

Yes, according to the Guardian and a few other articles out there. Cheers! 19h ago23.21 GMT The US navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz if necessary, president Donald Trump said on Tuesday, in one of the administration’s most aggressive steps yet to attempt to contain soaring energy prices sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran. As the escalating conflict in the Middle East has raised risks to shipping through key waterways, Trump said that he had ordered the US international Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf. Global crude prices have spiked since Israeli and US forces began striking Iran over the weekend, leading to fighting that has interrupted Middle East oil tanker shipments. Ship owners and analysts were uncertain that military escorts and insurance backstopping by the DFC would be enough to stop rising prices, however. The DFC, launched in 2019, is a government agency that partners with private investors to support projects in developing countries. Trump has made lower fuel costs for Americans central to his economic messaging, and the move signals a willingness to use financial and military tools to prevent disruptions to global crude supplies. “No matter what, the United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world,” Trump said in a social media post.

LOL! That's actually pretty insightful. Cheers!

Yup...I agree. I just remember the last time there was a huge spike in rates, they locked in 5-7 year terms at those rates. Not that this dislocation will be as long...but they may be able to lock-in high 3-4 year contracts. Apparently of the 750 or so ships that go through Hormuz, about 100 or so are containerships. If the U.S. government entity now guarantees the insurance rates on those ships...well, it's like getting coverage for nearly free, while shipping rates are through the roof. Interesting times! Cheers!

Well they have long-term contract rates, but they also have ships coming on line. They may be able to take advantage of spiking rates. Cheers!

Would Atlas benefit from the recent spike in shipping rates through the Gulf? As well, is Fairfax underwriting any policies on shipping in the area with the massive spike in insurance that the U.S. government is now covering? Cheers!

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/panic-sweeps-korean-stocks-biggest-075144038.html Cheers!

Nope...would be a good thing. But let's not pretend that there isn't anything in this for the Trump dynasty. Cheers!

Of course he's going to profit from it...you don't think he's going to take a chunk of Gaza...that the value of that land will be worth a fortune if Iran is out of the picture? What do you think Kushner is doing in the region...his only goal is to make money there. Cheers!

Yes, Vance is also thinking the same thing. Put up with 4 years and get a shot at the title to do it the way I want. But Rubio understands global politics better than anyone in the Trump administration. He also has balls that I don't think Vance has. So to keep MAGA world happy and Dems glad it isn't Trump, he's the best solution long-term. Cheers!

China's not stupid. They know that they will have to get along with the U.S. to some degree...and vice versa. Global stability is to the benefit of China as well...maybe no Taiwan, but they will always be the alternative when the U.S. pisses someone off now! Cheers!

Frankly, I think Rubio should be the next President. He's the most competent, well-spoken, terrific leader, loyal even to someone like Trump's agenda, incredibly capable, and is pretty much running the entire government anyways! His Q&A right now on CNN shows how good he is at his job...not a single person in Trump's entire hemisphere as talented as this guy. Dems have no one anywhere as capable either! Now if Vance or someone else somehow wins, you are going to get another 4 years of this from me and everyone else Cubs! Cheers!

They will lower interest rates 600, 700, 800 percent! Powell could have done that too, but that's not how math works! Cheers!