Sweet

Oligopoly sure but they are competitors of each other and they are not sitting down and conspiring on prices to give the consumer a bad deal. In the case of Apple specifically it’s offering is not a commoditised consumer product, that was never their pitch. So looking at their margins and how they run their ecosystems and concluding it’s illegal seems like a stretch. Don’t like the phone get one of the many other phones out there.

Another antitrust case against Apple this time. This adds to Amazon, Google and Facebook / Meta I believe. With Apple they do have a closed ecosystem and a dominant market position, elements of a monopoly, but I don’t feel they actually have a monopoly or that it’s particularly hard to leave Apple. The FTC has gotten more aggressive over time in pursuing companies it regards as being too big in anyone market. It also seems odd that the FTC are going after some of the most important US companies which ironically often compete with one another in products and software.

I think this is where the ‘diversity is our strength’ mantra get exposed. Diversity of dumb ideas (left and right), fractious politics, and cultures clashing is not a strength. It’s clearly pulling the countries apart.

That kinda sucks. I’ve become a lot less political over time. Having a family does that to you. Overly political people suck the air out of the room when they start talking politics.

Whats the split now in that town, it was 60/40 conservative, has it swung one way or another?

I think that’s certainly part of it, a big F off to career politicians, media and other powerful groups and people.

If the media and left leaning politicians honestly reported on Trump I’m certain he would have much lower support. Instead it’s been lies and misinformation for eight straight years, from the Russia collusion narrative in 2016, the endless other shit in between, and now another blatant and transparent lie with the ‘bloodbath’ reporting. I think many on the right could agree with you about Trump’s character, but a sober analysis of his character is almost impossible when it’s just constant lies and misinformation about him spread by the powerful. It obscures any discussion about Trump itself because everyone can see these transparent machinations from various powerful groups (media, politicians, courts) to prevent him from running. Imagine if none of this occurred and we didn’t have these talking points about the media (and others) because he was fairly and honestly appraised. There would be nothing to rage against and a sober assessment of Trump would be possible. I’m certain many would dislike what they see.

Because the outcomes in Democracies are obviously significantly worse than authoritarian? What a weird thing to say.

How can they spin a successful launch as a failure? Whatever anyone wants to say about Elon one thing is clear - he gets things done.

What is to stop Putin just having another go in a few years? Ukraine would need security guarantees, which may include NATO membership for this to be ensured to end in a stalemate.

If TikTok is used to spy by China and / or used to spread Chinese misinformation then it should have been banned long ago. After all apps like Facebook and YouTube are banned in China.

CAR is interesting but the finances are crazy to me. If I was in charge I’d have cleared a lot debt first and then got on with the buybacks. Their profits are definitely coming down as prices in the used car market drops too. I hope at some point the finances make sense to me. At some point I could see me taking a position there.

The vanguard fund posted above and the really short term fund both tracked well. It’s the longer dates ones that seems to deviate in price. Maybe these correct as you say overtime.

Saw Dune 1 and thought it was very good. Will make sure to catch this one too.

Does look better that one.

Will it return to par though. Eg. https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SHY/ 5 year view. That should be mean reverting but it’s not.

Never heard of this before, great alternative it seems

I don't like the treasury ETFs for the following reason - please correct me if I am wrong. If interest rates rise, the ETF will drop and if you want to exit the position you have to sell the ETF and take the loss. However when you buy an actual treasury you, and the interest rates rise, you can just wait for redemption at par to exit (if it is a short term bond). So if it is within your means to purchase a treasury why would you buy the ETF?

The problem is it further penalises people who work and who eat at busy times - rush hour, lunch, after work.

For the dot com comparison guys; start date standardised to $100 I believe. Nvidia def frothy but dot com comparisons overblown

These indicators predicting a top in the stock market get more ridiculous: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-a-drop-in-oil-10-years-ago-suggests-the-u-s-stock-market-is-headed-for-a-decline-1a3b701b?mod=home-page

Now I’m thinking down nah, f it, it’s gonna baby

Alright, what’s your feeling on Nvidia earnings? Stock has been trading lower the past couple of days. After the earnings will it be: - Up big? - Down big? - Little change? I’d be shocked if there was less than 10% move. I’m picking up - 10%+

I agree with most but not all of that. Whilst I believe btc has no 'instrinsic value', which I define as the old value investing trope of throwing off cash, I do think it is valuable for some people who want to move money around outside of the banking system, and even those who believe it is a store of value. There is a network effect here that is propping up prices, and there is a use there. But I don't own gold, and I don't own bitcoin.

That’s correct, many weren’t buying Bitcoin, but they were buying the other crypto because of Bitcoin and its explosion in price. Sure they don’t know the nuts and bolts of it in the same way you do but they definitely do understand the basics. I disagree that it’s the early phase of adoption. I don’t understand how this is still an argument for a 15 year old coin that every Tom, Dick and Harry on the make was trying to own (or an alternative to it) just a few years ago. I mean come on, we have a goddam ETF now. It doesn’t get much more mainstream than that.