The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXI

[cardgame]

So you require an irrational belief to witness the irrational?

That's a logical statement, yes. Once you have accepted it other things fall in line. A brand of confirmation bias if you will.

 

[say1988]

So you require an irrational belief to witness the irrational?

If you don't believe in the irrational, then when you see something that appears irrational you generally have the basic assumptions that you lack knowledge that would otherwise make it appear rational.

Think of the situation where someone is cured of an uncurable disease with a 100% mortality rate. If you believe that everything has a rational reason, you say "there must have been an error or something unique about this case, after all the human body is extremely complex and doctors are generally playing the probabilities." Whereas if you believe the irrational can happen "you were saved, its a miracle."

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

If you don't believe in the irrational, then when you see something that appears irrational you generally have the basic assumptions that you lack knowledge that would otherwise make it appear rational.

Think of the situation where someone is cured of an uncurable disease with a 100% mortality rate. If you believe that everything has a rational reason, you say "there must have been an error or something unique about this case, after all the human body is extremely complex and doctors are generally playing the probabilities." Whereas if you believe the irrational can happen "you were saved, its a miracle."

Yep, I'm firmly in the first camp.

My dislike of the whole "miracle" thing is I feel it does God/nature a disservice. If I was God and I created the universe, supernovae, the barrier reef, dinosaurs, hummingbirds etc, I'd be a little non plussed at the humans making up stories about a guy turning water into wine or walking on water as if to imply that the majesty of creation is somewhat lacking and God's glory needed propping up with fairytales.

 

[Synobun]

Yep, I'm firmly in the first camp.

My dislike of the whole "miracle" thing is I feel it does God/nature a disservice. If I was God and I created the universe, supernovae, the barrier reef, dinosaurs, hummingbirds etc, I'd be a little non plussed at the humans making up stories about a guy turning water into wine or walking on water as if to imply that the majesty of creation is somewhat lacking and God's glory needed propping up with fairytales.

I think I'd be more insulted that they worshiped me.

 

[aronnax]

Hollande is the President of France and you guys want to bash Britain?

Really???

Ah whatever. Nick Clegg.

 

[W|M]

You can't really compare British political leaders to French ones when the British have Dave, Boris (BORIS!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Clegg the Maid.

 

[aronnax]

It seems that I have crossed-post horribly today.

----

Whoops

 

[Tee Kay]

Is life supposed to be taken seriously, or is life about having fun?

Link to video.

 

[Farm Boy]

Is life supposed to be taken seriously, or is life about having fun?

Yes!

My son turned one this past weekend. Time flies. Whenever I feel cranky or in a rut like all I want to do is waste the evening I try to remind myself about how very important now always is. It's hard to keep in mind that life is both precious and fleeting without subsequently being compelled to do something fun.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Can someone explain to me amortization?

 

[Cutlass]

Can someone explain to me amortization?

When used in the context of a home purchase, amortization is the process by which loan principal decreases over the life of a loan. With each mortgage payment that is made, a portion of the payment is applied towards reducing the principal, and another portion of the payment is applied towards paying the interest on the loan. An amortization table shows this ratio of principal and interest and demonstrates how a loan's principal amount decreases over time.

Amortization is generally known as depreciation of intangible assets of a firm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amortization

I think that explains it about as clearly as I can. You take out a loan. That loan amount is the principle of the loan. But you also pay interest on the loan. So the total of all the payments exceeds the original loan amount. Now most loans are not designed so that all the interest is paid first, and then the principle (though that can be done in the case of some loans), but rather every payment is a portion of the principle and some interest payment.

Amortization is the decline in the principle of the loan that is still owed. In standard home mortgages, which is where most people will encounter this, that means that as you pay down the mortgage you build up equity in the home. So that if you sell it, you not just pay it off, but take out some equity which can be applied to your new home purchase.

 

[DroopyTofu]

How much (in America) would it cost to get a suit dry cleaned?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

In an older book I found the f-word used as a bad term for homosexual people used, but I don't think they were referring to homosexual people as they were burning them in a fireplace or something to make a nice scent (it's a rather strange mental image if you assume it's homosexual people). So ... what exactly is this other definition?

 

[cardgame]

Bundle of sticks

How much (in America) would it cost to get a suit dry cleaned?

Obviously dependent on the service and your location but I think I remember seeing an advertisement for it at like $65?

Edit — that might have been for a coat.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

How much (in America) would it cost to get a suit dry cleaned?

Depends. In a city you'll pay higher naturally. My suits usually cost around $20 but I live in a medium sized town surrounded by national forest and meth freaks.

 

[DroopyTofu]

Bundle of sticks



Obviously dependent on the service and your location but I think I remember seeing an advertisement for it at like $65?

Edit — that might have been for a coat.

Depends. In a city you'll pay higher naturally. My suits usually cost around $20 but I live in a medium sized town surrounded by national forest and meth freaks.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm just trying to get a rough idea for how much to budget. I had not clue if it would be $10 or over $100; I've never had to do it before.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Assume between those values. How many pieces is your suit? I just get my jacket, pants and shirt dry cleaned for reference.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amortization

I think that explains it about as clearly as I can. You take out a loan. That loan amount is the principle of the loan. But you also pay interest on the loan. So the total of all the payments exceeds the original loan amount. Now most loans are not designed so that all the interest is paid first, and then the principle (though that can be done in the case of some loans), but rather every payment is a portion of the principle and some interest payment.

Amortization is the decline in the principle of the loan that is still owed. In standard home mortgages, which is where most people will encounter this, that means that as you pay down the mortgage you build up equity in the home. So that if you sell it, you not just pay it off, but take out some equity which can be applied to your new home purchase.

That's about as clear as I could ask for, thanks!

Your post applies to home mortgages, though. My contact with amortization is in relation to EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). Would amortization in this case be the decline in principle of the mortgage of the land the business owns? How would this situation change if the land were rented?

 

[_random_]

In an older book I found the f-word used as a bad term for homosexual people used, but I don't think they were referring to homosexual people as they were burning them in a fireplace or something to make a nice scent (it's a rather strange mental image if you assume it's homosexual people). So ... what exactly is this other definition?

The word meaning "bundle of sticks" is ultimately derived, via Old French, Italian and Vulgar Latin, from Latin fascis (also the origin of the word fascism).[6] The origins of the word as an offensive epithet for homosexuals are rather obscure, although the word has been used in English since the late 16th century as an abusive term for women, particularly old women,[7] and reference to homosexuality may derive from this,[6][8] as female terms are often used with reference to homosexual or effeminate men (cf. nancy, sissy, queen). The application of the term to old women is possibly a shortening of the term "-gatherer", applied in the 19th century to people, especially older widows, who made a meagre living by gathering and selling firewood.[8] It may also derive from the sense of "something awkward to be carried" (compare the use of the word "baggage" as a pejorative term for old people in general).[6]

And today it refers to OP.

 

[say1988]

That's about as clear as I could ask for, thanks!

Your post applies to home mortgages, though. My contact with amortization is in relation to EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). Would amortization in this case be the decline in principle of the mortgage of the land the business owns? How would this situation change if the land were rented?

The amortization of a debt instrument would be the same no matter the use of any underlying asset or asset the debt was used to finance. It is purely a function of the terms of the debt, based on the gradual repayment of the principal along with the interest.

A question, is this purely about amortization of a mortgage or other debt item? Because from an accounting perspective (which I would assume you are looking from if using metrics like EBITDA) you also have the amortization of intangible assets (equivalent to depreciation of tangible assets) and bond premiums/discounts (basically a method of converting from the stated interest rate to the market rate).
In an accountant frame of mind, the only amortization that should show up on the income statement, and therefore be part of earnings, is the amortization of intangibles. The amortization of mortgages is a finance concept and in accounting you just have interest and principal payments and premiums/discounts are all done through interest expense.
In fact the repayment of a loan's principal is specifically not earnings related, but capital.