Please remove or disable Java from your computer — PC or Mac, laptop or desktop. The software Java is vulnerable to being hacked, letting the bad guys get control of your PC and making your life permanently miserable. I have removed Java from all my Windows machines. It’s easy: Go to Control Panel “Add or Remove Programs” in XP or “Programs and Features” in Win 7. You may find one or two programs with the word “Java.” Uninstall all or them. Then reboot.
For an Apple machine, click here.
Do not disable JavaScript.
Oracle, which now owns Java, will release a new patched, Java in the next few days. You’ll be able to install the new Java. For now, you can happily run without Java. Most important, do not visit web sites which an email you received suggested you visit — especially for one of your credit cards. The crooks are getting good at making fake emails look real.
I owe Apple a big apology. They responded aggressively, and walked me through as we fixed iTunes syncing problems (see Friday). Essentially the solution was to uninstall (i.e. remove) all Apple software on my PC, including Bonjour, iTunes and three pieces with the name Apple in them. Then reinstall iTunes from the Apple web site. It seems crazy to remove five pieces of software to repair one. But it worked. There’s a lesson here somewhere.
Today’s Wall Street Journal has a story that says “Apple cuts orders for iPhone parts.” Click here. I no longer own Apple shares for the reasons I mentioned on Friday.
Qualcomm over ten years.
Qualcomm’s P/E is 18.Here are charts of its financials, courtesy the Wall Street Journal:
Is this going to be a ten-bagger over the next year or so?
No.
Is it going to gain a respectable amount? Yes Is it worth owning a position? Yes — based on the technology I saw and the Vision I heard from CES (Consumer Electronics Show) last week.
Just how good is Warren Buffett’s track record? From a Seeking Alpha piece:
Using the Information Ratio, which measures the expected return of a manager’s active portfolio divided by the amount of idiosyncratic risk (risk that can almost be eliminated with diversification), he has outperformed every single stock and almost every single mutual fund over the past 30-year period on a risk-adjusted basis:
The Seeking Alpha piece explains how Warren does it. The piece is good. Read it. Click here.
Favorite recent New Yorker cartoons.
Cute Scottish/Greek joke
A Greek and a Scotsman were sitting in a Starbucks cafe discussing Who had the superior culture.
Over triple lattes the Greek guy says, “Well we Greeks built the Parthenon” and arched his eyebrows.
Grant replies, “Well … it was the Scots that discovered the Summer and Winter Solstices.”
The Greek retorts, “We Greeks gave birth to advanced mathematics.”
Grant, nodding in agreement says, “Scots were the ones who built the first timepieces and calendars.”
And so on until the Greek comes up with what he thinks will end the discussion. With a flourish of finality he says,
“The Greeks were the ones who invented sex!”
Grant replies, “Aye, that is true, but it was we Scots who introduced it to women!”
Harry Newton, who encourages his readers to get a flu shot. I got one on Sunday at the local supermarket pharmacy and I’m still alive. Hence the flu shot must be safe. Uncle Sam paid for it through Medicare. Thank you. Stop touching your face. Wash your hands. This flu is nasty. My friends are suffering.
Harry, your search is over. I believe Berkshire Hathaway is THE perfect investment.
Oracle now has an update for the problem: Java Version 7 Update 11.
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
It’s interesting to observer your souring on Apple, Harry. You could be correct, we’ll see- but I think it’s overdone.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/14/did-apple-really-cut-orders-for-iphone-5-parts/?source=yahoo_quote
Any doctors out there? I was at my annual check up last week and my doctor told me that there is a big misconception out there about the flu. Many people who have the flu (and there are a lot out there this year) think that the flu shot would have prevented the flu when this is not true. Also, many people that receive the flu shot think that it minimizes the length of time that they will have the flu or they won’t get the flu altogether. However, according to my doctor, the flu shot that people receive safeguards against deadly strains of the virus and if you get infected by that strain you will know it because it lasts for a minimum of 7 days. Therefore, the flu shot prevents against very serious flu viruses but not that stomach virus that last a day or so.
On the news last night, they stated that flu shots are about 68% effective. I guess it depends somewhat on one’s attitude whether to get one or not. My wife and I get one every year (why not) and have not had the flu for several years…maybe we simply were not exposed. Best safeguard still seems to be staying away from crowded places, wash your hands often. Use disinfectants on your hands anytime you touch something someone else touched, especially money, door knobs & etc. Keep your hands away from your face at all times. Wear a mask while at the doctor’s office…that is where sick people go. Our doctor provides free masks. Germs can travel up to 12 feet and last for hours on items touched. Common sense is the key. Remind each other often of the safeguards. Remember what your mother told you!
non-Doctor Lucky
Why wait so late to get a flu shot? We always get ours in November, from our Doctor’s nurse, free, during our annual physical…and yes, Medicare picks-up the tab, I am sure. By the time your mid-January flu shot takes effect, flu season is half over. High-dose, as recommended for us oldies over 65 takes about 2 weeks to become effective.