u/Naive_Bat8216

I'm trying to figure out whether Iren, now priced at about $40, is simply in a slump and will return to its highs of 65+ soon. It seems that May/June came along and so many stocks peaked and then crashed, IREN being one of them. Rocket lab, IONQ are a couple others in other sectors. Rocket lab was due to the SpaceX rush I suppose.

Can someone tell me the narrative of why IREN and data center stocks specifically dropped from their June peaks? Is it fundamentals or is it just a temporary down? Nothing fundamental has changed regarding Iren's thesis, has it? What is the "macro" theme I'm missing here? The Iran war? High rates on treasuries?

Has the bubble burst from AI data center enthusiasm, or is it in a temporary slump and will rebound?

JP Morgan predicts 24B in revenue by 2030. That doesn't sound like the thesis has changed.

I've had a hosting plan with JustHost for the last 10 years or so. It's been costing me about $10/month, and I decided to build a Canva site for free instead because all I really need is a web presence and nothing else. So, I've built the Canva site for free, and closed down my justhost plan, but kept the domain subscription that I originally bought with justhost.

Here's my problem though. I have a book published where I tell readers to e-mail me at an email address that I created with justhost, as well as to access my domain name that I originally set up with justhost.

I've looked into options for pointing my domain information from justhost to Canva, and it looks like that will require me to purchase Canva Pro or higher to implement that functionality, which will cost about $12/month. Even with that though, the old e-mail address I have with justhost will no longer work because my justhost account is closed.

What are my options here? I want to keep costs as small as possible because I don't use the website for anything other than for posting a few documents related to my published book. I love Canva because I feel like I can be more creative on that site for having a better web presence, but other than that, I don't do anything more with the site.

Based on my research, the cheapest option is to renew the justhost plan, and just tell readers to go access my Canva site on that justhost page. Justhost is going to be cheaper than Canva for monthly hosting/subscription, plus I get to keep the e-mail address on justhost.

Do you agree this is my best option (to simply keep the justhost plan and tell readers to access my Canva site? Seems to me it's the most cost-effective way to make sure both my domain name still works and readers can still e-mail me via the email address I set up with justhost.

If there is another way, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

Service Titan is down 30% after earnings where it wasn't even that much of a miss. Seems like a great buy the dip. Am I missing anything? Stock was 100/share end of August, now 57/share just because of a slight earnings miss? Targets are still quite high, over 100, what am I missing?

If I have 500k to invest and will not touch the money until 20 years from now, am I better off putting that money in an IRA or taxable account? No dividend stocks. In both cases, I'll buy VTI or VOO. Put the money there and forget about it until 20 years when I start making withdrawals.

Am I better off with the taxable account because it will tax my gains as capital gains instead of ordinary income (and my capital gains tax will be lower)?

EDIT: I realize the contribution limit for IRA is much less per year, but just supposing I could contribute 500k to IRA in a single year, what is the benefit to doing that instead of a taxable account? In 20 years, that's the only time I'll start making withdrawals, both accounts will be growing tax-free until then, no?

Thanks!

Investing 500k of your retirement account at the above yields $35,540 per year, and you get all your cash back at the end of 30 years.

Any reason why not to do this? I realize the market (S&P) returns more over time, but the certainty that comes with these high interest bonds almost seems worth not having to worry about the stock market ever again and not have to check it day to day wondering if your money will ever run out.

Are these types of bonds risky? Would be nice to have that $35,540 coming in regularly as a "pension" type check while I leave a few other investments in more riskier accounts.

Even a treasury bond at 5.275 (30-year) sounds appealing the way the stock market goes sometimes.

Starting to like that "pension check" guarantee, and at 7.108% that doesn't sound too bad to me, even if the market will return 10% over time.

Couple weeks ago posted saying State Farm was increasing my home policy by 50%. No warning. Never a claim. 15 years of loyalty. Increased it from 800/year to 1200/year. Out of the blue. Blew my budget.

Today I signed on with Foremost (spin off of Farmers) insurance for $403/year, same coverage. Did so through a broker who found me the best deal out there. No frills, just needed something so if the house burned down it wouldn't ruin me financially. Closest thing I could get to a "fire only" policy for a small 33-year old log cabin.

Also, moved the cars from State Farm to Progressive. Saved $200/year.

Total savings from State Farm increasing my bill after 15 years of loyalty? $1000/year.

Don't take rate increases without a fight! Shop around. They assumed I'd do nothing and just accept the rate increase because "everything is going up in price" kind of excuse. But I didn't, and I got a much better deal. I swear they increase our rates simply because they can. Well, we can shop around too and I hope you all do the same. Let them know if they raise your insurance at all you're going to be on the phone looking for a better deal. The free market is free because of US.

The $1200/year wasn't unreasonable, but it was the 50% sudden increase that really sparked me after never submitting a claim in my life across both home and car and the house not being worth that much $-wise to begin with (my land is, but the home is pretty basic, 900 square feet). "Increase in fire risk and natural disaster risk, so rates have to increase." Whatever. Sounds more like an excuse to hike our rates.

Healthcare premiums + property taxes + car insurance + home insurance. No money left to eat unless we take action.

How does the "intelligent" person deal with the frustration that he/she is very rigorous, critical, and deep thinking, but may be surrounded by (most, not all) coworkers (or others, in general) who are not?

The best way I can describe this I think is by analogy. The analogy isn't perfect, it is exaggerated, but it works. Suppose you are in a room of 10 individuals. The question comes up as to why 2 + 2 = 4. You, being rigorous and deep thinking, know that to actually find a satisfactory answer (if it exists) to that question would be a dissertation length project in philosophy and the philosophy/history of math or epistemology. You are humble. You are not arrogant or cocky. The other 9 people in the group answer the question with "Because that's what the calculator says when I punch in 2 + 2." When you tell them the answer is much more complicated and deeper and would require extensive deeper theoretical/historical analysis, they don't "know what you mean," feel frustrated with you for "making things more difficult than they are," and increasingly gain confidence in their own answer as a collective social group. Consequently, your only option is to leave the room or simply accept that your contribution is not being received and accept that the group opinion needs to be tolerated. They are emotionally comfortable with their answer and that, not logic or truth, is what matters most to them. They "think" their answer is deep. You know their answer is trivial.

Why am I asking this question? I'm asking because I'm starting to think that thinking rigorously/deeply is a CURSE. It breeds frustration with others who do not see that there are deeper layers of analysis (similar to the above example). The frustration can easily lead to dislike of others, when in truth, the people you are frustrated with are wonderful human beings and if it were not having to relate to them on the 2 + 2 type question, you might make good friends, and aside from the 2 + 2 type questions, they are very skilled at other things. But professionally, you loathe their intellectual level on work matters. They are not only naive and shallow thinking, they are extremely confident and arrogant in their shallow thinking, believing that it is "obviously correct" and discount your quest for deeper analysis or even awareness that the solution is deeper, and may even be unsolvable. I hate the fact that I dislike or am frustrated with people based on the fact that they don't have the "thinking disease" that I, and others in my circle, do. I'm starting to genuinely wish I did not process deeply. A day with my coworkers where we talk about the weather is freaking blissful and I love each and every one of them. But on Monday when 2 + 2 = calculator I want to never talk to them again (and neither do a few of my coworkers). We are NOT snobs. We simply can't tolerate the calculator response and keep our mouths shut because we know our arguments won't be received. It's easier just being silent.

Knowing that 2 + 2 does not equal calculator is socially isolating and brings about unwanted negative feelings toward others. For what? For what benefit? What "gift" is there in expanding awareness if it makes you feel isolated from the calculator group? A friend of mine was going through this too, extremely analytical, mega deep processing, writing me essays on her thought process. Amazing. Insightful. And feeling super frustrated/lonely that her friends could not appreciate or value her depth of processing. My response to her was simply to start hanging around other people who do and almost apologizing to her for her "growth." "I'm sorry you're thinking deeper now, I had hoped it would pass you by." I'm not convinced her deeper analytical thinking is making her happier, all considered. Like a mathematician elevating to a higher level of understanding necessarily narrows their professional social circle and restricts them to associating with fewer mathematicians lest they go insane trying to relate their ideas to the majority. Yes, lunch, beer, weather, talking about the children, all on the table. But not advanced math. With the leaps in understanding, the circle has gotten smaller. It feels painful/frustrating talking to the mathematician they were a few years ago when they used to believe the "calculator" response was correct.

I am dumb as a rock. I know that. But if I feel that frustration (leading to unwanted "dislike") of some coworkers for not processing more deeply, it makes me wonder how the hell actually smart people survive without going batshit crazy in the workplace.

Let's assume Einstein is the poster boy for "genius" here (no need to agree with this to follow the argument, let's just pretend Einstein is the 'cat's meow" of IQ here). He's seeing the bigger picture and processing at level 100. His colleagues are (relatively) uncritical thinkers processing at level 10 and arrogantly thinking they are right. How did Einstein deal with this? Did he just fake agreement? Did he accept that he'll just have to follow the social group even though he knew the social group's conclusion was entirely wrong, emotionally driven, superficial and illogical? When others mocked his opinions on the universe, did he try to convince them of their truth or did he not waste time on trying to convince those who would be unable to appreciate his views?

Would he walk out on the "because the calculator says so" person, or would he try to persuade the person to realizing there are deeper issues at play and challenge their defenses?

Do geniuses like Einstein self-isolate to stay sane? Would Einstein have been happier had he less awareness of the nature of the universe, kind of like being able to accept that it's because the calculator says "4" as the ultimate reason (by my analogy above)?

Just curious to hear what folks think. Any and all opinions are welcome, thank you. I've experienced some of this at a very micro level. It makes me wonder how truly smart people survive and deal with seeing things that most others don't, kind of like only 100 mathematicians in the world understanding a given a given proof yet having to associate with other mathematicians on math who will never understand.

My seemingly absurd conclusion thus far is that people like Einstein would have probably had a more enjoyable life had he never opened a physics book. Rigorous, deeper critical thinking is a curse. 2 + 2 = 4 because the calculator says so is BLISS (the "ignorance is bliss" idea).

It's kind of like when you're 10 you think the world is a wonderful place. Then you grow up and realize all the injustices and atrocities and so on. It's a curse to have to absorb all that awareness and still be happy.

I think of the movie "Orange County." The kid would probably have been better off with the mind of a surfer instead of an intellectual writer. His "growth" into a writer was a curse. He became at odds with his father, his mother, his girlfriend, his brother, and in the end the movie solution was to remain around these people even though they lacked the insight or awareness to understand him (unlike the Stanford prof who understood his writing at a deeper level). Lance, Sean's brother, who has basically given up on life, might actually be the happier person. "Aspiring to be a writer" meant not talking to his circle about his writing, and reserving it for discussions with the Stanford prof (and similar). But had Sean not been "gifted" with his writing ability and processing, he'd probably be a much happier person surfing the waters. Same with Sean's girlfriend, Ashley, she's aware of all the animal suffering in the world. She would have been better off without that awareness especially in a world that doesn't recognize animal suffering the way it should.

When I watch that movie, I increasingly see Lance as the more aware person compared to Sean. Lance knows knowledge is a joke and chooses to just do drugs and watch TV. He isn't brainwashed like Sean. I think the writer of the movie tried to convey that too, at times showing how wise Lance actually is. Almost like Lance had been there and done that and realized drugs and the couch was as good as it would get. That's probably taking it too far, but I do wonder now whether Sean would have been better off just being as "dumb" (in a matter of speaking) as his English teacher or his surfing buddies. Sean's awakening to being a writer seemed to derail his life.

On the other hand, my argument might be totally nuts. Thinking that 2 + 2 = 4 and solved by calculator may be a much more painful existence than actually knowing the answer is much deeper. I think I'm just trying to figure out which is a blessing and which is a curse. In near isolation or in a closed and select social group, I would never doubt that 2 + 2 = 4 is complex is more enjoyable and uplifting than a more shallow "calculator" answer.

The great philosophers and thinkers of the past told us to think deeply, be self-reflective, aspire to greater awareness, and that the unanalyzed inauthentic life is not worth living. They all can't be wrong. But that may also be why not just anyone was accepted into Pythagoras's circle.

It's not an existential anxiety either searching for "truth" or anything like that, it's an awareness that things are more complex than they often appear or have several deeper layers to them. That awareness, that "knowledge," if we can call it that, I question whether it makes me a better person or simply generates frustration professionally, even if the frustration is latent. It would be like a NASA engineer thinking going to Mars isn't "that far" and shouldn't be too hard. You can drink beer with that person all weekend and have a blast, you think the person is awesome, but you can't talk to them on Monday morning on the topic of going to Mars if they are not open to delving in with you about the complexities of going to Mars. Love them on the weekend, frustrated with them on Monday morning to the point of not wanting to cross paths (because any time you inject "Mars rationality," it doesn't land). Relative to that person, at least, knowledge of what it takes to go to Mars feels like a curse and you hate the knowledge dividing you and your coworker. Multiply that coworker by a few more, and you start to wish you thought going to Mars is easy too because you want to be happy too! (like those who think we can go to Mars tomorrow) But, the toothpaste isn't going back in the tube any time soon.

No doubt they dislike us too for knowing that going to Mars isn't so simple or that 2 + 2 = 4 is opening a can of worms. They're probably having the same conversation about us elsewhere, we're the "overthinkers" and can't understand why we move beyond the calculator in our analysis. To them it's so simple, why are we unable to "get it"? We're the dumb ones.

Anyone ever heard of them or have a policy with them? Any good?

I love my country, USA. I'm 52, and in a position to soon early retire. As I stress test my retirement plan, there are only a few things that could sink it. One of them is healthcare. Though my income will be low and I'll obtain discounts on premiums, healthcare costs are still a major stressor to my retirement plan should I eventually need care.

It seems crazy, but does it make sense to retire abroad (e.g., Costa Rica, Mexico, Malaysia) simply and ONLY because of healthcare costs? Does it seem insane to do that only for healthcare?

It just seems crazy to me to consider where to retire based only on healthcare and no other considerations. I'm healthy, no health concerns, but I have to bridge 52 to 65 before medicare kicks in.

Would you retire somewhere other than USA only because of healthcare? Doesn't that seem totally nuts?

Does anyone else over 50 one day feel like retiring, living off scraps and being minimalist, then the next day feel like starting a business and trying to make a million? One day you feel like moving to a smaller place, the next you wouldn't give up your current home for anything? One day you feel like quitting your job, the next you're happy to simply have one?

It almost feels like your ultimate fate and decisions depend on how you feel on the given day. How do you make decisions when every path is viable and desirable?

Too much freedom over 50. Stay at work or retire early in Malaysia?

I can't be the only one feeling this way.

Thinking of moving to Cochin, Sask. I've heard the crime rate in North Battleford is very high. Can someone comment on just how bad it is? Are there bad folks walking the sidewalks making it feel very unsafe at night? Do you feel safe taking to the highways at night from Cochin to North Battleford?

Any info you could provide would be appreciated. Thank you.

For the life of me I cannot find out where to bring old stains and chemical cleaners for disposal. I've cleaned out my shed and have old chemical liquids, some of which have been diluted with water, and I need to dispose of this. Old paints and stains and such.

I know I can bring old used oil to Walmart, but where do I bring all this other stuff? Do we not have a place in Missoula to drop off hazardous materials for recycling?

Any leads would be appreciated, thank you!

I'm closing down my justhost.com site, but will keep the domain name. I built a site in Canva (free edition), and want to redirect users to my Canva site when they go to my old justhost.com site and see that it is closed. So, I'll close justhost but keep the domain name.

Can I redirect users from my domain name to my Canva site without upgrading to Canva business? I'd like to continue using the free version of Canva if possible, it is all I need for my site.

Thank you!

I'm early 50s, am a teacher (male), but have always felt like I was meant for more. Don't get me wrong, I do like teaching the kids, it's just that I feel like I could be doing so much better $$$ if I expanded and managed to speak to larger audiences. I am an excellent communicator, very articulate, love speaking in front of large audiences and am skilled at managing a room, a spontaneous sense of humor and think fast on my feet with humor that comes out of nowhere at the right time, and I'm pleasant to look at (I've been told I'm an attractive guy, I'm in shape and pretty good genetics). I want to market these skills and make big $$$ if I can. I want people to pay to hear me speak.

I'm very confident, but not cocky, I just know my skill set and feel frustrated by it not being put in practice. I'm not challenging myself to actualize these skills in the marketplace and feel very frustrated by it.

I feel like I should be speaking to groups of 100 participants or so, to people who value what I have to bring. I am very down to earth and connect with people very easily when I want to. People feel like I'm sincere, genuine, and I wear my heart on my sleeve, so they feel good around me in that stage/performance atmosphere.

What are my career options that would capitalize on those talents? Where do I find my "stage" for performing that pays for what I have to offer? My dream job would be performing/speaking about once/month and the rest of the time creating material in private/quiet and working toward preparing for the next gig, similar to being a teacher, but not daily, and not to kids but instead to adults who value my energy/charisma a lot more.

Some have told me I should try breaking into comedy and be a stand-up comedian as I'm also quite philosophical and come up with new "material" fairly often. But how realistic is that? I probably can't make much money doing that and would love to make $$$ on my strengths. Would love to have regular speaking engagements.

Would appreciate any ideas. A lot of people hate performing/speaking in front of large audiences. I love it though. I'm a quiet, shy person in everyday matters, but when on stage I light up and I know there has to be a way to establish a career doing this more than teaching kids. I feel like my talents are going unrecognized and I need to break through, and want to see how much $$$ I can make challenging myself to attract an audience. It's not about the money really, but I feel like what I have to offer currently isn't being renumerated as it should and that I'm capable of much more. I feel like a frustrated artist unsure of his outlet to expend all that energy.

I welcome any ideas, thank you! Any feedback is much appreciated. To all of the above, I should note as well that I *think* I'm good at these things, but as some of you have noted, the market will be the final judge on that. I totally agree. I think what I'm saying is that I'm ready to find out where I stand in the REAL market, not a teaching job where I'm not really being rewarded for whether I have those skills or not. After years of gaining experience teaching, I'm ready to test the market to see if I can maximize on those skills (if I do have any, I'm confident I do, but I'll let the market decide, I want the market to reward or not reward me for whatever I do or don't have).

Increasingly, I find myself playing lines and runs leading up to chords where I do not know what line or run I'm playing, only that it sounds and feels good, almost like the reason why I'm playing a half-step rather than a full-step here or there has nothing to do with theory but everything to do with anticipating the sound of the next note I want to play. I then finish the run and play the chord and often the run suited the lead up to the chord very well.

But if you ask me what run I did play and why I chose those notes, I wouldn't be able to tell you whether it was theoretically correct in any sense. I may not even be able to repeat the line exactly.

I was watching Joe Pass in concert and was wondering whether he knew the runs he was playing or whether he just knew what was going to sound good here or there leading up to the chord. Kind of like whether the next note was a half-step up or down was a decision made in the moment. That's how I'm feeling like I'm starting to approach playing - moment to moment, improvising, but without too much theory guiding me. Some theory, yes, but only to be in the correct "neighborhood," that's it. Kind of like thinking "Yeah, this should be fine if I do this," but only finding out for sure once I play it."

I am no Joe Pass, but would be curious how others approach this. Do you know you're playing an arpeggio, and are you aware of when you're going outside the arpeggio to implement a risky or tasteful deviation? Or, do you treat the guitar as though all notes are "allowed" and simply depend on your ear to anticipate what will next sound good?

Joe Pass relied heavily on his ear to know what to play, but I'm wondering the extent to which he actually knew whether what he was playing made sense theoretically. Passing tones and that kind of thing, it's increasingly feeling like every note in any context is playable, and I feel more and more I'm just trusting myself with my own anticipation of what is going to sound good. Yes, I may start out with an A minor pentatonic, but then as I go down the neck I end up outside of that structure and could not name the scale or deviation (from Am) I'm playing. And, increasingly, I know that if I play this or that note, it's going to be a note I spend a blink of an eye on because it's a risky one, but I could not immediately tell you why it's risky. I just know my hand tells me it's going to have to be a passing tone.

I've been playing for 40 years (not all jazz, mostly fingerpicking, blues, etc.), but last 10 or so increasingly trying to figure out players like Joe Pass and adopt/understand his style.

Would be interested in any feedback on these ideas and how you experience the fretboard in relation to feel vs. theory or both.

To be clear, I'm not an accomplished jazz musician by any means. More wondering whether what I'm going through is a sign I'm improving (that is, the way I'm processing my playing and keeping theory slightly at bay).

Thanks!

I'm a Cipher Digital fan (investor) right now, but just wondering how those holding IREN are feeling. IREN, Cipher, are down, but do you all feel optimistic that IREN will bounce back to 60s? Or, do you feel like the air is out of the balloon until earnings show progress?

IREN has been up and down over the past year, are you predicting the same cycle into the Fall which would bring it back up?

Anyhow, just curious. Cipher is 17-18, but I'm expecting a bump to 25 whenever we get some good news, not sure when that will be though. If Cipher moves, I'd expect IREN to do the same. Closely watching NBIS to see if/when it recovers too.

No fire yet, but I'm imagining my house burned to the ground. I'm insured for 200k dwelling, but, the cost of actually replacing my house would likely be more, closer to 250-300k.

If my house did burn, could I simply request a check from the insurance company for 200k, sell the land, and move? Or, is the 200k only for rebuilding?

My home is paid off in full. I owe the bank nothing.

Thanks,

State Farm. Have been a customer for 15 years, no claims ever. Multi-discount with 2 cars. Never a claim not even a speeding ticket.

My home insurance just went up from $800/year to $1200. I'm underinsured anyway, as dwelling is only about 200k and it would take between 300k to 400k to completely rebuild my house if it burned to the ground. My deductible went up from 9k to just over 10k.

$1200 invested in the stock market yearly at an average rate of 10% generates 217k at the end of 30 years, courtesy of AI.

I realize canceling home insurance is not wise, but anyone else loathe paying these increases especially if they are underinsured anyway?

I know many will say I'm still getting a great deal at $1200, but an increase of 50% I'm just not okay with especially that my policy sucks either way.

Fun planning budgets and finance when your insurance company can spring 50% increases on you without notice. "Oh, by the way, loyal customer, here's your new rate!" Not cool.

Just got the bill for my home insurance for the coming year. Up 50% from what I've been paying for the past 15 years. State Farm.

Can anyone relate? I'm this close to calling them and telling them they have lost a loyal customer forever. Never had a claim, I also insure two cars with them, never a claim, not even a speeding ticket.

Definitely going to shop around to see if I can get a better rate.

Anyone call their insurance company, threaten to leave, and they bring down your rate back to what it was? 15 years I was pretty much at the same rate. A 50% increase does not go well with me.

Would appreciate any advice or stories of how your insurance has gone up as well and what you did about it. Has anyone just canceled home insurance and gone without? Oh, I'd love to do that, but realize it's probably way too risky. Home is paid for, so no bank to force me to carry insurance.

I'm looking at my policy and seeing things I don't think ever existed on it. Arson reward, bed bugs (?), fuel oil release? Could be that they've simply made an error on my policy, I'll check on Monday.

Thanks,

Home built 1993, septic tank installed. 1000 gallon tank. I've owned the house since 2010. Pumped on schedule, no issues. Only me in the house with occasional guests (who I don't feed so they have less chance at contributing to the tank . . yes, I'm very minimalist and cheap! Haha).

So, the tank is 33 years old. Plan on having the house another 20-30 years. Last pumped 2016, plan on pumping in the next couple of weeks.

Other than regular pumping (I pump every 10 years, I'm super careful of what I put in the septic, no harsh chemicals, no garbage disposal, as little toilet paper as I can and use "Scott's 1000 sheets per roll", etc.), any maintenance costs I can anticipate?

Will the septic likely need replacement in the next 20-30 years, or work on the leech field, or am I probably in the clear of repairs like this if I treat the tank right?

I wash clothes with All, free and clear detergent, and run a dishwasher with Great Value Automatic Dishwasher powder (phosphate free).

Nothing else goes down the tank since 2010 (I don't know what the prior owners did).

Just trying to budget for costs in the next 20-30 years.

Thank you!