Goodness gracious, look what the mail brought today!!
A paper invitation to the annual general meeting and a welcome to Pyhäntä! These things still exist 
Visitors are promised lunch and coffee with cake – or to be precise, a tasty lunch. This really warms the heart. I wonder if I should go.
What a nice feel-good story.
I have a Parson Russell Terrier myself, 8 years old, and our daily life revolves around a shared rhythm, doing things together. She understands many words and can tell from my gestures what’s happening next. All the daily chores she gets to participate in are special moments, and they are done with 110% efficiency and enthusiasm. From the moment an instruction is given, she’s ready to act in a second. On nature hikes, her endurance is strong, and not a single national park trip has been limited by her stamina. Every car trip to somewhere or anywhere sparks excitement. Always ready.
And then there’s the encounter: Is there a more beautiful way to start the day than when the alarm goes off and the dog is allowed to jump onto the bed to say hello. Every single morning, with the same enthusiasm, it’s the world’s best good morning and “what are we doing today.” And when I come home, the joy is mutual, every time.
This results in a deep sense of responsibility towards my dog. And even though I don’t have to think about it yet, inevitably I’m already thinking about the tough decision ahead years from now, when the time comes to let go of a dear friend, and I am the one who will have to make that decision.
And here I thought that in investing, there are no free lunches other than diversification!
Lifestyle creep hit again, and I bought an expensive (€600) wool coat. I don’t even think it’s that bad of a splurge, as a coat is long-lasting after all. But it’s strange that I think about this more than upgrading my phone (€600–800) every two years. Technology becomes obsolete so quickly and is expensive.
Hannu Angervuo has written about the amateurish First North Finland 
The price index of the First North Finland marketplace fell by 24.0 percent, while the main list’s portfolio price index rose by 29.7 percent. In the years 2021-2026, the First North Finland marketplace index has fallen by 61.6 percent, while the stock exchange’s portfolio index has risen by 24.0 percent.
The First North Finland marketplace index is already in its sixth consecutive year of decline. This is not a success, but a severe loss.
Not even an incurable optimist can explain this as a success.
Gut feeling says that this tip among those highlighted is a bit more dangerous. The reason for the collapse won’t be reflected in the earnings until the future; if it does materialize, the cheapness can be fleeting.
If only at least some of these Finnish success stories would stay even partially in Finland or Europe. Now, only some American banker gets rich from this, and once again we’re left empty-handed in Finland. I bet this company has received a fair amount of subsidies too, and once again, taxes paid to Finland vanish into thin air.
It must be a proud moment for the dividend camp when Indepod’s investment asset history episode mentions that dividends were the only returns gained from stocks (was that during the Stone or Bronze Age or something? 
).
In general, this whole dividends-vs-buybacks confrontation is pretty pointless; they’re all going to go bankrupt eventually. Some sooner than others. Even the oldest company is only about 1,000 years old, so you’ve got to hurry if you intend to have time to invest in anything at all, let alone get something into your own wallet (whether it’s dividends or buybacks).
Well, bankruptcies help with taxes, so this whole business is just smooth sailing 
I thought I’d share an observation: the next time an otherwise calm colleague, spouse, or friend reacts strongly and negatively to something relatively small or a minor stressor, and no major negative life changes have occurred, try asking them how they’ve been sleeping lately.
Having observed my otherwise calm inner circle and their chronic sleep deprivation leading to outbursts—for example, behind the wheel—it’s much easier to understand this irritability toward, say, the minor blunders of fellow drivers. Sleep deprivation also starts affecting memory quite quickly. It’s a very common story, for instance, among snorers: neither partner sleeps well, and chronic sleep deprivation makes otherwise calm and patient people more irritable and short-tempered.
Wishing everyone a good night’s sleep for the nights ahead!
Of course, you should use some tact here, as an irritated person who is already at their breaking point might feel that a question about sleep is an attempt to dismiss their important issue, or even an intrusion into the realm of their personal and private well-being. 
Of course, one has to use some tact and wait to ask the question until the acute situation is over. You can also mention this to your supervisor, whose duties include occupational well-being. Of course, many of these constantly grumpy 5-6 hour sleepers aren’t bothered by anything, if you ask them
A sleep researcher once gave a good response regarding these chronic 5-6 hour sleepers: cemeteries are full of these chronically sleep-deprived people who often passed away from a sudden medical episode in their 50s or 60s.
Those who sleep 5-6 hours a night are like companies that organize events on how AI doesn’t threaten their business, or information ministers according to whom the final victory over the enemy just happened at the gates of Baghdad.
Good point, especially with an irritated woman, you should always ask if she perhaps didn’t sleep well.
And you get bonus points for showing concern if you tell her she looks tired.
I wouldn’t dare mention any monthly recurring ailments. Even under the protection of the Forum’s anonymity.. (Sorry!)
I just can’t for the life of me remember which well-known female Finnish neuro/brain scientist said this, but this is how it went:
The most important thing in life by far is sleep.
It’s unfathomable how little people respect sleep, and the harmful effects are so visible everywhere all the time that I won’t even start listing them.
I’ve been waiting for a few years for sleep to become a new, explosively growing wellness trend, but now it’s starting to look worryingly like quite a few people would rather stay awake until they make themselves sick.
One could even say that people are sleeping through this health trend.
After several years of running a business, you have a track record to show banks regarding collateral and actual performance.
