thebmax

6 ms·

1.
by thebmax 2y ago
I'm JJ's brother and an investor in Double so I'm a little bit biased but I believe reducing/eliminating AUM fees is a huge net positive for the world. The performance drag over long term that money managers charge is a
2.
by thebmax 7y ago
I love the idea and vision but I think you are underestimating the benefits of a good name. I can’t pronounce Terusama, couldn’t remember it, and it would be hard to spell if heard. Also it doesn’t suggest what you do at all which is import
3.
by thebmax 9y ago
Agreed. Fuck Benchmark. Travis makes each partner $1 billion personally and this is how they treat him? They should be blackballed by every great founder out there. I had respect for benchmark but not anymore. They are greedy assholes.
4.
by thebmax 10y ago
Without the solar ITC and wind PTC most projects wouldn't be feasible. I'm skeptical these will last past a major tax overhaul as planned this year. I don't think your view on oil prices is correct. Even if supply cuts work U
5.
by thebmax 10y ago
Not exactly how it works. The projects are leveraged off balance sheet with separate, often tax advantageous entities owning the panels in a complicated lease buyback structure. 'Losing money is a good thing' is not true if you un
6.
by thebmax 11y ago
A real life Ayn Rand story.
7.
by thebmax 11y ago
That was what I was getting at ;). I had an old boss who used to call hydrocarbons 'Mother Nature's Battery'. Its almost a miracle when you think of it. Millions of years of solar energy stored in solid, liquid, and gas forms
8.
by thebmax 11y ago
Not questioning whether innovation can and will occur. Question is whether the innovations to be developed can compete with what is the present reality which is ~10cents/kWh price that we currently pay for power. All things considered
9.
by thebmax 11y ago
I'm all for innovation in storage and think there might be a breakthrough at some point. But this goes to the heart of it. Right now a fully renewable grid that matches what we currently have is not financially viable. Not saying it wo
10.
by thebmax 11y ago
Case in point is a very cloudy day with no wind. Depending on where it is demand could be very high if it's cold out and heaters are running full blast. You will essentially need a full load supply to come from somewhere or you'll
11.
by thebmax 11y ago
'Storing solar power underground' - what if it's in a pressurized and compressed form that's easily transported and has a high mass to energy ratio? Brilliant!
12.
by thebmax 11y ago
These cost comparisons don't take into account reliability. Power is almost useless if it's not reliable. A large part of your monthly bill goes towards reliablility and transport of power, not just the power itself. A 100% wind o
13.
by thebmax 11y ago
Great idea, RICO investigate everyone who doesn't toe the party line! How do these people believe this a good idea? If their science is good it should stand against all falsification arguments without the need for government protection
14.
by thebmax 11y ago
It could also very easily spin out of control and increase instability in Asia.
15.
by thebmax 11y ago
Amazing what Obama is willing to give up in order to secure 'his' legacy issues. 60 years of post war Asian defense strategy thrown out the window. I don't see this ending well. Japan a has a deep militaristic underbelly and
16.
by thebmax 11y ago
Business people who move jurisdictions due to tax hikes are not 'ransoming' anyone - its their own private property and they can move where ever they want. Politicians who are too stupid to realize that raising taxes causes capita
17.
by thebmax 11y ago
I see your points and agree a carbon tax is the most market friendly way to account for environmental externalities. However, my main point is that wind and solar are NOT economically viable despite what Elon and every other silicon valley
18.
by thebmax 11y ago
I'm continually amazed by people who think government bureaucrats make better decisions than consumers. Or people who think they know whats best for everyone else. You don't think renewable energy companies also hire lobbyists? Ar
19.
by thebmax 11y ago
Solar is not reliable without batteries and even with batteries in many parts of US, will not generate sufficient electricity to maintain our current standard of living. Nevada and parts of the south have lots of sun but most northern state
20.
by thebmax 11y ago
This is partly the problem with renewable power. You get large swings in generation where some days it's your entire demand and you may even have to pay to export the excess power and other days it's 0 and you need to fire up the
21.
by thebmax 11y ago
what's actually happening is the Chinese have started harassing neighboring countries in an area 600 miles offshore China and within 100 miles from other countries like Vietnam and other south East Asian countries. By harassing I mean
22.
by thebmax 13y ago
famously insane according to who? The founding mantra of the editorial board: "We are united by the mantra 'free markets and free people', the principles, if you will, marked in the watershed year of 1776 by Thomas Jefferson's Declaration o
23.
by thebmax 13y ago
I really don't get why people who call themselves 'mainstream' economists can't see or choose not to acknowledge the issues the Austrians bring up. It strikes me as quite odd. Not everything the Austrian school preaches is correct, but they
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by thebmax 13y ago
This is really interesting and makes the whole situation seem absurd. It makes you wonder what they (the EU) are thinking. It is really scary that this can happen in this manner. Each individual bank was not treated differently - some Cypru
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by thebmax 14y ago
Capitalism also allowed Bill Gates to make $60 billion so he could donate it to finding a cure for malaria.
26.
by thebmax 14y ago
You are correct. Berkshire Hathaway would benefit, not him personally. The tax credits are a big reason these things get built. There is a 30% solar tax credit that can be passed through to owners against other income. http://www.dsireusa.
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by thebmax 14y ago
Solar energy investments are financed through tax incentives. Buffet is doing this to reduce his tax bill.
28.
by thebmax 14y ago
This is most likely a tax play. Renewable energy projects are almost always financed through tax incentives that can be used to offset tax liabilities elsewhere. Could be seen as hypocritical of Buffet considering his recent musings that ri
29.
by thebmax 14y ago
I agree with you that the poor get hit by this just as hard. A person who is facing a drug charge who has a few priors will be given the choice of pleading guilt and serving a few years in jail or going to trial and risking 20 years or some
30.
by thebmax 14y ago
This is a great article. I have followed the Conrad Black case closely and have been amazed for some time at the ruthless nature of the prosecution. Not only do they freeze assets, and add on ridiculous charges like 15 counts of wire fraud

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