tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.comments2023-10-14T09:10:22.357-07:00Shearer InsanityJames B. Shearerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comBlogger606125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-61507111170843192992023-07-09T12:51:38.162-07:002023-07-09T12:51:38.162-07:00I believe the white dome is the "Iron Peak Sp...I believe the white dome is the "Iron Peak Sports Bubble" which is just a couple of miles away.<br /><br />Thanks for mentioning the wikipedia article which I was unaware of. It is sort of nice to see such an article. Hopefully wikipedia will not purge it as being insufficiently important which they sometimes do.<br /><br />As for immortality I do agree with Allen although I would add a good health caveat.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-40223393449036664262023-07-02T14:02:15.135-07:002023-07-02T14:02:15.135-07:00Do you know what the white dome is?
More importan...Do you know what the white dome is?<br /><br />More importantly - belated congrats! I just followed a link to the Wikipedia article on Shearer’s inequality, and see that it was indeed your work. *And*, I got there by reading (ok, mostly staring at) a recent Terry Tao blog post on the adjoint Brascamp-Lieb inequality, in which he mentions yielding your inequality as one of its applications.<br /><br />Math has an almost(?) unique permanence so I was going to close by asking you how it feels to be immortal. Then I realized you likely just agree with Woody Allen, whose take is below.<br /><br />"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying."<br />― Woody Allen, The Illustrated Woody Allen ReaderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-17504632225939448432023-05-28T11:12:38.226-07:002023-05-28T11:12:38.226-07:00Yes, those on fixed incomes are having problems ri...Yes, those on fixed incomes are having problems right now with the rising cost of living.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830629701752556960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-29627304755799796432023-05-28T11:06:30.158-07:002023-05-28T11:06:30.158-07:00At least that's done finally.At least that's done finally.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830629701752556960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-23432629048217653582022-06-13T09:40:31.299-07:002022-06-13T09:40:31.299-07:00I really enjoyed your blog posts thank youI really enjoyed your blog posts thank youRecipes with Tomhttps://www.recipetom.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-54281858243776926552022-03-21T23:29:48.995-07:002022-03-21T23:29:48.995-07:00My post was a little unclear, I had just received ...My post was a little unclear, I had just received a letter saying that the dispute had been resolved in my favor. As you say I had earlier received a tentative credit for the disputed amount immediately after submitting the complaint.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-54288773303602191022022-03-15T12:15:27.165-07:002022-03-15T12:15:27.165-07:00Good description of what happened! What you did w...Good description of what happened! What you did was a 'chargeback'. I believe that chargebacks which aren't obviously fraudulent in the judgement of the card issuer result in an immediate refund to the cardholder (which you saw) and a corresponding debit to the merchant account. At that point merchant may let it sit, or submit evidence that the charge was legit (the nature of which depends on the specifics of the chargeback claim and of what actually occurred). If issuer accepts this, they issue a 'chargeback reversal' by crediting the disputed amount back to the merchant account and (I think) debiting the cardholder account accordingly. At that point cardholder can initiate a '2nd chargeback' providing refuting evidence, which if accepted just replays the initial chargeback.<br /><br />In your case, unless something truly wierd is going on, I expect your chargeback to stick. Hope you enjoyed the roast!Jerry Wedekindnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-13263571888588456842021-09-10T05:35:13.556-07:002021-09-10T05:35:13.556-07:00Hello, Everyone, I' m Adrik Vadim living in K...Hello, Everyone, I' m Adrik Vadim living in Kurgan City , I want to share with you all on here on how Mr Pedro help me with a loan of 15,000.000.00 Rubles to start up my food beverage delivery after all I have work in several hotels here in kurgan just to earn a living but unfortunate I was still having difficulties to pay a rent but I thank God now that I'm a self employ now with 5 workers working in my care. Just if you are looking for financial freedom I will advise you to contact Mr Pedro with this email below pedroloanss@gmail.com <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-44910319781986746812020-01-18T08:21:06.646-08:002020-01-18T08:21:06.646-08:00Hi Donna. Thanks for posting your memories of Gai...Hi Donna. Thanks for posting your memories of Gail and John. Gail continued living at that address until last year when she had to move for health reasons. After Gail and John were married they kept their individual homes for some years but eventually John sold his house and moved in with Gail. About that time Gail stopped running the B&B.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-27535692084626136222020-01-16T00:54:36.577-08:002020-01-16T00:54:36.577-08:00I just found your blog on John Fletcher so am late...I just found your blog on John Fletcher so am late in commenting. Sorry to hear of his passing. I was looking up your Mother Gail to see if she was still at the Livermore Ave. address where she had a B&B called the Shearer Home where I stayed for a couple weeks in the early or mid 1990's when I was on temp. detail working at the Livermore Lab. Very nice home -it was recommended by Dr.Duba who I interviewed at the Lab. I remember the long Swiss horn in the living room, the big cloisonne table lamps,the small cozy library room filled with books, the Adirondack style chairs outside the house, the pretty purple (iris?) flowers planted outside my bedroom window, and a pet cat or two. I really enjoyed it. Gail was so nice, and I do recall seeing Dr. Fletcher in the home briefly a couple times. Wow - he was a very accomplished physicist/scientist! (My brother-in-law also has a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the Univ. of Wash.) I live in Bellevue, WA. Regards to your Mother. I will always have fond memories of my stay at your parent's home. Donna O. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-81855316156754421442018-11-29T15:01:39.230-08:002018-11-29T15:01:39.230-08:00I cashed my check. (it was, with interest, a litt...I cashed my check. (it was, with interest, a little over $350.00). I don't know what I'll do come tax time. Maybe just claim as Misc. Income. Hopefully I won't end up in prison with Manafort, LOL.<br /><br />All the best, and thank you for your replies. You are super smart!! <br /><br />Mindy Pokey johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13765223428134623667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-48926654394145522332018-11-29T00:54:55.575-08:002018-11-29T00:54:55.575-08:00It looks like a bunch of new checks have gone out....It looks like a bunch of new checks have gone out. The original checks were mailed out as of March 29, 2017. But according to a distribution plan I found on the SEC website the Administrator was required to make a reasonable effort to locate eligible claimants if the original checks were returned (because of a bad address) or not cashed. For example by searching for a better address using the social security number. In my case the original check was not sent to the correct address and could have been lost (but fortunately wasn't).<br /><br />Regarding the tax treatment of the distribution, I found a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180805133501/http://valuelinefairfund.com/" rel="nofollow">copy </a> of Value Line Fair Fund home page (which seems to have disappeared) using the wayback machine. This contains a reference to a "distribution tax statement" but unfortunately it appears this wasn't saved (or at least I can't find it) by the wayback machine. My memory is that the interest portion was taxable as interest and the rest was taxable as a return of capital. In my case I owned 2 funds and had sold one. For the fund I had sold the return of capital was considered as additional sale proceeds and for the fund I still held the return of capital reduced my basis. This meant I needed to know the allocation between the the two funds which the statement with my check did not give. After much trouble I was able to get this by emailing the Fund, apparently the phone help operators had no access to this information.<br /><br />For an IRA I would expect if the account is still an IRA and the funds are deposited in it, then they won't be taxed until you start taking distributions (as with other IRA income). But I am not a tax attorney or accountant. James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-88138880224088328752018-11-28T06:34:15.101-08:002018-11-28T06:34:15.101-08:00We received two checks this month. After looking a...We received two checks this month. After looking at papers from the beginning of the 2000s I realized we had IRA accounts with the Guardian Value Fund. I can not get into the website to find out the overpaid brokerage fees part of the check is a taxable event for us.<br />Does anybody have that information? Interest accrued is probably taxable but what about the other part. If it is from an IRA should it be deposited into an IRA so it won't be taxable until withdrawn?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-23989417516114338912018-11-18T12:58:33.587-08:002018-11-18T12:58:33.587-08:00We recieved a check dated 10/30/2018 for 253.50 a ...We recieved a check dated 10/30/2018 for 253.50 a couple of days ago. Have no memory of ever owning any valueline funds but for a couple of years we did use a full service broker who was a lier and thief, so if there were comissions, he probably did it. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04028962681837469975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-14714355550855795662018-11-11T18:12:51.323-08:002018-11-11T18:12:51.323-08:00Thank you so much for your response. I’m going to ...Thank you so much for your response. I’m going to deposit the check tomorrow and cross my fingers that it clears. I have no doubt it will. If anything, it’s a nice surprise and perfect timing before the holidays. It will be a nice donation to an animal rescue organization I’m quite fond of.<br />Thank you again for your reply! <br />Mindy Pokey johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13765223428134623667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-8098553915191194602018-11-08T20:32:05.331-08:002018-11-08T20:32:05.331-08:00It is interesting that checks are still going out....It is interesting that checks are still going out. I don't know why your check was sent out so much later than the others but the distribution process has not been a model of efficiency. I found an SEC <a href="https://www.sec.gov/divisions/enforce/claims/value-line.htm" rel="nofollow"> web page </a> (last modified March 8, 2018) which gives some of the history. It provides contact information for the Fund Administrator, A. B. Data, at the bottom. Perhaps they can explain why your payment was delayed. Although the web page listed for the Fair Fund wasn't working when I tried it. But perhaps you would have better luck with the email address or phone number.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-86746111309961803852018-11-06T09:20:24.406-08:002018-11-06T09:20:24.406-08:00Hi! I stumbled upon this blog from a Google searc...Hi! I stumbled upon this blog from a Google search. I received a check yesterday Nov. 5, 2018 from VALUE LINE FAIR FUND /SEC v Value Line Distribution Fund (The Huntington National Bank). I had NO IDEA why I received the check and thought it may be a scam. After researching, it appears to be legit. I never filed a claim so it may have been filed by my fairy godmother for all I know! No clue. I can't remember that far back. :-) Has anyone else received a check at this late date? I'm almost afraid to cash it. Thank you in advance.<br /><br />Pokey johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13765223428134623667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-40030120762668864492018-01-19T08:33:37.873-08:002018-01-19T08:33:37.873-08:00The most striking thing to me was that it took Alp...The most striking thing to me was that it took AlphaZero 4 hours' self-learning to in effect recap all of human (and at least most of computer) chess progress since beginning of the game.<br /><br />The qualifier on the computer side is due to my having read the wikipedia article on AlphaZero, which suggests that Stockfish's configuration (and the fixed-time moves) were decidedly non-optimal for Stockfish. Also I gather that AlphaZero may have made use of more HW processing power than Stockfish, though I haven't seen a clear description of this.<br /><br />BTW there is on Netflix an enjoyable documentary on AlphaGo. It stays more on the human than the technical side but they had access to Lee Sedol and the development team and I found it pretty compelling.<br /><br />One observer interviewed said that AlphaGo's occasional 'slack' moves (in which an alternative move could have gained more territory) were a result of the fact that AlphaGo was going for more certainty rather than more territory - i.e. Go masters tend to use score as a proxy for winning probability, but AlphaZero is saying 'No, a win by one is still a win'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-11391123226868473102017-08-23T04:18:56.922-07:002017-08-23T04:18:56.922-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102614377773280997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-79587614962716614732017-06-13T09:49:56.426-07:002017-06-13T09:49:56.426-07:00I received a check today for 53.55 and had no memo...I received a check today for 53.55 and had no memory of ever filing but I must have. I was just checking online to see if it was a scam and am happy to see it is legit.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01659533271801502007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-89937867187287201722017-06-09T21:28:14.282-07:002017-06-09T21:28:14.282-07:00I probably would because I am kind of pigheaded ab...I probably would because I am kind of pigheaded about things like that but it is up to you of course. You might see if the bank would waive the paperwork since they aren't risking much.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-59798398265863925482017-06-09T15:40:03.848-07:002017-06-09T15:40:03.848-07:00Just received my check written to a name I haven&#...Just received my check written to a name I haven't used in 25 years, divorced remarried and divorced again since the account was closed. Is it worth digging out the divorce decree to prove who I am for less than $15.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-63544751143003151982017-05-18T23:09:01.557-07:002017-05-18T23:09:01.557-07:00These awards were for people who owned shares in o...These awards were for people who owned shares in one or more of several Value Line Mutual Funds between 1986 and 2004. They were to compensate for excessive fees charged by the funds as determined by a 2009 settlement with the SEC. Claims were due in 2011, if you don't remember filing a claim perhaps one was filed on your behalf if you held the shares in a brokerage account.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-65881817698134403492017-05-18T23:02:01.234-07:002017-05-18T23:02:01.234-07:00I finally got an answer to my question about how m...I finally got an answer to my question about how my settlement amount should be allocated between the two funds I owned. After many fruitless calls to the help line I was finally instructed to send an email with my question to their email help address. This produced an immediate reply with an attached spreadsheet breaking down my settlement amount by fund and year. <br /><br />I estimated above that the awards would be about .001 of the fund value per year. This was about right for the Value Line Fund (.001040) but a bit high for the Value Line Income and Growth Fund (.000753). These are averages, the yearly ratios were quite variable.<br /><br />The awards for 1986 were multiplied by 2.79 to account for interest but this didn't actually make me whole because the Value Line Fund (with all distributions reinvested) increased in value by a factor of 5 from 1986 to 2004 and the Value Income and Growth Fund increased in value by a factor of 6.James B. Shearerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13452342984383895221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291287351469784668.post-83976107031442581352017-04-13T13:00:13.435-07:002017-04-13T13:00:13.435-07:00The framed picture and tribute to Cheever behind t...The framed picture and tribute to Cheever behind the cash register in the Highland Diner was provided by me; I mailed it to them. I was pleased to see it displayed prominently. In time they even added a couple of Cheever books to the tribute.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940403507030051746noreply@blogger.com