tooskinneejs

Please let me know when someone convinces another on a political issue on this board. I won't hold my breath as I don't expect this to happen in the next decade or more. But hey, at least the political chatter clogs up the board and distracts from a focus on investing.

That may be exactly the point being made. It's value is based entirely on perception with no underlying intrinsic value.

If everyone stopped believing in Google as an investment, its price would drop (for some time) but its intrinsic value would not because it would continue to generate cash flows. The problem with BTC is that its "value" has nothing underlying it. It's price is based on nothing except belief that it has value. In other words, it's "value" is entirely extrinsic. Similar to buying an artwork that is highly desirable, you may make money upon selling but it wasn't because the art had intrinsic value was because someone else believed it had value (extrinsic).

But isn't this only because people have generally believed in it over time? If tomorrow everyone stopped believing in the value of bitcoin, wouldn't its price drop? The only thing giving it "value" is extrinsic belief. As to your water example, maybe it would be more appropriate to have used a cup of virtual water rather than real water.

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion from my explanation of its purported value: "I think an accurate evaluation of Bitcoin is that there is no intrinsic value but there is an extrinsic value based entirely on belief." There have now been three different answers to the question of value: 1. Ownership of bitcoin gives you ownership of the network - This is demonstrably false. 2. Its akin to owning a screw after screws were first invented (i.e., a useful tool) - I'm not sure that anyone got rich off owning screws in the early days. Making them, maybe. Owning them, doubtful. 3. Its like owning a fraction of a highly desired piece of art - I think this is the most accurate analogy and it corresponds to the premise noted in my quote above regarding the basis for its value - 100% extrinsic value. One thing is interesting for sure, there seems to be a wide disparity of views as to why people believe it has value.

I was referring to this... "...much of it filled with people convincing themselves of value when none existed...I watched Sears unfold and I've watched this unfold. I'm not sure the situations are that different."

192 pages is nothing. There were 371 pages on Sears, much of it filled with people convincing themselves of value when none existed. I don't post much, but have been around for a long time. I watched Sears unfold and I've watched this unfold. I'm not sure the situations are that different. I think an accurate evaluation of Bitcoin is that there is no intrinsic value but there is an extrinsic value based entirely on belief. As to the original Q&A between us, there is no value from the network because holders of this virtual currency have no ownership interest in the network. There will doubtless be many people who make money from speculating in Bitcoin, but it won't be because of true intrinsic value, it will only be because someone else believes the story more than them. Thanks for your time and good luck.

So simple it can't be explained.

Owning Meta gives you ownership of a fractional interest in their social media networks and the networks generates cash flow from advertising. Owning BTC gives you no ownership of the network and the network itself generates no cash flow. Saying that owning BTC gives you ownership of "the network" is like saying having funds in a DraftKings account gives you ownership of their network. In either case, you have funds in an account but they don't convey ownership in the network. Please tell me how I am wrong.

Bitcoin is a virtual currency. Owning it gives you no ownership of the network of computers on which transactions are recorded. You asserted the currency's value was based on fractional ownership of the network. So if we discard the intrinsic value assigned to the network because ownership of the currency provides no ownership of the network, what is the intrinsic value of the virtual currency itself?

How is ownership of the network evidenced?

How much network ownership comes with each BTC?

What is its intrinsic value right now?

Here are the top 10 holdings in the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (MOAT): Top 10 Holdings (28.04% of Total Assets) Symbol Company % Assets GILD Gilead Sciences, Inc.3.36% BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company2.95% DIS The Walt Disney Company2.89% CTVA Corteva, Inc.2.83% BA The Boeing Company2.74% GEHC GE HealthCare Technologies Inc.2.73% KVUE Kenvue Inc.2.68% MO Altria Group, Inc.2.67% NKE NIKE, Inc.2.61% VEEV Veeva Systems Inc.2.57%

I am as old as many of you. And while I love music from the 80's, 90's, etc., I also love newer music - something I'm not seeing much of in this thread. So for that reason I'm going to encourage you guys to try out some younger artists that are great (in no particular order): Grouplove - Moving and infectious, uplifting rock with two vocalists. You may know their song 'Tongue Tied.' Examples of other great songs: 'Deleter,' 'Welcome to Your Life,' 'Cheese,' and 'I'm with You.' Noah Kahan - Vermonter who plays folksy acoustic guitar-driven music that has a lot of emotion. Examples of great songs: 'Northern Attitude,' 'Stick Season,' and 'She Calls Me Back.' Dinosaur Pile-Up - For those who like their rock a little harder. Listen to their album 'Celebrity Mansions' and check out songs like 'Back Foot,' 'Round the Bend,' and 'Long Way Down.' You'll hear elements of Blink and Radiohead here and there. Smallpools - Fun pop rock with some emotional tracks too. You may know their song 'Dreaming.' Check out other songs like 'Killer Whales,' 'Passenger Side,' 'Mother,' and 'Stumblin' Home.' Zach Person - Love bluesy rock and Lenny Kravitz? Give this guy a listen. He has a new album titled 'Feel It.' Check out the title track and songs like 'Muddy Water' and 'Make It.' Jadu Heart - Erethral alternative rock. Check out the album 'Derealised' and the song 'Cocoon.' Joey Valence & Brae - Modern take on the Beastie Boys. RDGLDGRN (Red Gold Green) - Rock music with bouncy rap vibes. Listen to 'I Love Lamp,' 'Lootin in London,' and their new song 'Feel It Right Now' (those from the DC area will recognize the go go beats). They have lots of tracks on video games. I hope you find something new you enjoy!

"The Company missed analysts' earnings estimates" No, analysts misestimated the company's earnings.

We're just returning to historical average temperatures...

Loved your post as it really resonated with my situation. Once we had kids, I didn't spend enough time taking care of myself (and I too have been know to eat more than my share of McDonald's). For exercise, I used to have a regular, pulley-based weight machine. I would run through the standard routine of exercises on it, but I never really pushed myself. And I only used it occasionally. Things changed when I found something that worked for me. If anyone is looking for an exercise solution that is really effective and highly motivating, I strongly recommend Tonal (the wall mounted, smart weight machine). I bought one a year ago and it has been the best investment I've made in my health. I love Tonal because it has instructor-led classes and programs (live and pre-recorded) and the instructors who exercise along side me push me way more than I pushed myself when I was working out on my own. Tonal measures your strength and then automatically sets the weights for each exercise in a particular class. This saves so much time that you can get an absolutely killer workout (if that is what you want) in 30 minutes. Some exercises in a class use the Tonal machine and others don't. For example, you might do squats followed by jumping jacks. And you can do almost any weight-lifting movement on the Tonal. As your strength and fitness improves, Tonal automatically adjusts the weights over time in small increments and shows you your progress. Maybe you are thinking, "well Tonal is good for strength but what about cardio?" I'll say this - I have a Peloton also and an intermediate or advanced class on the Tonal gets me way more winded than my Peloton ever does (and its not as boring). Its a big investment to buy the machine and there is a monthly subscription. Before shelling out the cash, I realized that I can either spend the money on my health now or I'm going to have to spend even more later in life. From all I had read, strength training is one of the most important things you can do as you age. So I bit the bullet and made the investment. Being a value guy, I bought my Tonal used on Craigslist for half the price of new. So to answer the main question of this thread, I would say a big regret is not taking care of my health and fitness once I had kids. I recommend that the younger among us take care of your fitness in your 30's and 40's and think about it like a non-optional investment in your long-term health. Now if only I could kick the McDonald's...

I think this is like a police officer saying over and over again to a trespasser, "leave the property or you will be arrested." Then finally when the police officer has given many chances and begins to arrest the trespasser, the trespasser responds, "no, don't arrest me I am going to leave now." Well, its too late. And as an aside, I wonder how logical is it to accept the word of a terrorist. It seems their credibility would be naturally strained.

I agree with most of these points too. With regard to income taxes, I believe people in lower income brackets should pay some tax, even if it is a small percentage. This makes them have some skin in the game and de-motivates them from voting for politicians promising 'free stuff' because they think it will cost them nothing.

This Charlie quote is pretty important these days... "Another thing I think should be avoided is extremely intense ideology because it cabbages up one’s mind. ... When you’re young it’s easy to drift into loyalties and when you announce that you’re a loyal member and you start shouting the orthodox ideology out, what you’re doing is pounding it in, pounding it in, and you’re gradually ruining your mind." – Charlie Munger, USC Law Commencement Speech, May 2007

"Cryptocurrency-trading giant Binance said the accounting firm it used to verify its reserves has paused all work for crypto clients, hampering efforts to reassure customers that their money is safe." "Binance also said outflows from its platform swelled to $6 billion, a reflection of turmoil among crypto traders shocked by the implosion last month of rival exchange FTX." "Mazars on Friday withdrew from its website a report on reserves at Binance and other cryptocurrency-trading companies. The report for Binance, which wasn’t an audit, was published last week. A spokesman for the accounting firm said it had made the move “due to concerns regarding the way these reports are understood by the public.” https://www.wsj.com/articles/binance-says-accounting-firm-pauses-work-for-its-crypto-clients-11671200654?st=v9qz5aolgzaljov&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink So much for virtual currencies being a "store of value."

Weird case "against Trump." As I understand it, the ex-CFO received compensation and didn't declare it on his taxes. The ex-CFO gets a slap on the wrist and the company is found guilty. Seems to me like the CFO should be the one being punished.

We just finished this limited series and it was great. It has to be great writing when you are hoping for someone to get killed.

I think there are tons of very informed individuals who rightly think cryptocurrencies will be looked back as a "how could anyone have believed in that" moment in financial history. I'm still waiting to hear why cryptocurrencies shouldn't be viewed as anything other than tulip bulb mania without actual tangible tulip bulbs.