In Search of the Perfect Investment

OK. I’m crazy. But this bagel cutter reflects what I love about technology. Neat, new, innovative.

Technology is exploding, bringing huge investment opportunities — for your own company (my preference) or publicly-listed stocks (today’s gamble).

This bagel cutter works. It saves chopping off your finger. My friend Chuck lost half his thumb.

This bagel cutter also shows the power of the Internet. Try this: Amazon is selling it for $15.99. But you can buy it from KaTom Restaurant Supply for $4.30. click here.

Keep reading. More technology below.

Stuff

+ LED lightbulbs are often awful. They’re not bright enough. They cost too much. They’re often not dimmable. Always test one before you buy a bunch.

+ The longer you put it off, the harder it becomes. But when you finally do it, it’s actually easy. (I’m preaching to myself.)

+ What is wrong with small businesses? They forget to bill you. They forget to call. They forget to reply to emails from customers.

+ I put all the stuff in my wallet on my flat bed scanner and scanned all the credit cards, my driver’s license, etc. Just in case.

+ Chrome is a better browser than Firefox, which is much better than Internet Explorer.

+ Instapaper is super great for saving stories from the Internet.

+ Alexa won the Consumer Electronics show. Investopedia reports “she’s being incorporated into consumer products, inside and outside the home, at a startling rate.”

One reader writes:

Apparently Sonos and Alexa are about to directly integrate, which will be awesome. A founder of Sonos is now at Amazon helping driving it. There is a private beta going on now. Once these two are connected, Alexa will really be unleashed.

Sonos makes wireless WiFi speakers, which are controlled by an app on your phone. The app allows you to stream music from all the online providers, like Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, etc. For a list, click here. Sonos speakers are insanely popular. My kids have them.

From a story in today’s New York Times:

One of the secrets to Sonos’s business is that once listeners become hooked on the sound from one of the company’s speakers, they tend to buy more of them so they can simultaneously play music in multiple rooms in their homes.

For the Times’ story, click here. For Sonos’ web site, click here.

The Wirecutter web site highlights the “BEST” in gadgetry.

I don’t always agree with their conclusions. But — if you’re buying some gadget, this is a good place to begin your search. They have a neat piece on the smart home:

Click here. Their best cheap Bluetooth ear buds are the Anker Anker SoundBuds Sport IE20 In-Ear Bluetooth Earbuds.

Only $33.99. click here.

Their best may not be your best. Best also to read the reviews on Amazon.

Facebook popular

Morgan Stanley and Cowen and Company like Facebook.

Goldman Sachs likes these 13 stocks:

Mylan (MYL)
Range Resources (RRC)
Envision Healthcare (EVHC)
Facebook (FB)
Ralph Lauren (RL)
Salesforce.com (CRM)
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN)
Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD)
Amgen (AMGN)
Noble Energy (NBL)
Amazon (AMZN)
EOG Resources (EOG)
Southwestern Energy (SWN)

I would not rush out and buy any of these just because they’re on Goldman’s list. I am glad they like Amazon and Facebook, two of my favorites. I’m also impressed by the number of energy companies — five out of 13. That’s 40%.

I updated my list of stocks I like. The list is in the right hand column on the site. Click here.

Dietary supplements are basically useless.

Item: Quincy Bioscience pushes Prevagen as a way to improve your memory and your brain.

Americans have bought $165 million of Prevagen in the past eight years. Which proves you can sell us anything.

This stuff is not snake oil, however. It allegedly comes from jelly fishes.

For news on a lawsuit trying to shut Quincy down, click here.

Favorite recent cartooons

 

This is my favorite.

Harry Newton, who is ecstatic with his new prism glasses. The best piece of technology ever. My tennis game is a thousand percent improved. The weather is gorgeous today in New York. Blue skies and warm (well, relatively). Perfect biking weather.