In Search of the Perfect Investment

Susan and I got a new granddaughter early this morning. She’s called Sophie Newton Maloney. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 19″ long.

France’s government has resigned, which might portend better things for ailing Europe. From Business Insider this morning:

French Government Resigns. Things haven’t been going so great in the Hexagon economically of late, and now President Francois Hollande’s governing coalition has resigned after the country’s economic minister criticized his growth policies. Arnaud Montebourg called out “the economic failure everywhere in the Euro zone, and thus France,” especially the “obsession” with austerity. “The role of the economic minister, or many state official,” he added, “is to confront the truth, however cruel, and propose alternative solutions.”

Business Insider also reported that things weren’t going so well in Germany:

German Business Confidence Collapses. The Ifo Institute’s survey of 7,000 companies fell to the lowest level in 13 months. The index hit 106.3, down from 108.0 in July and worse than the 107.0 reading forecast. It was the fourth-straight decline.

Ironically, European stock markets are up strongly this morning. Which re-affirms the idea that luck works well. And economics doesn’t.

A dear friend “sold” his mother’s apartment. The sale fell through because the buyer could get a loan. But another buyer appeared who’s paying more for the apartment and less brokerage commission. My friend was devastated by the initial sale falling through. But he’s ecstatic now. When God closes a door, He opens a window. Good philosophy to remember.

Only politics this morning: We really should get energy independent asap and stop sending those monsters in Saudi Arabia money. They use our money to foment worldwide terrorism. They’re directly responsible for ISIS , Boko Haram (Nigeria), the Shabab (Somalia) etc. Don’t believe me, read this, from an Opinion piece in the weekend’s New York Times:

Saudis Must Stop Exporting Extremism
ISIS Atrocities Started With Saudi Support for Salafi Hate

ALONG with a billion Muslims across the globe, I turn to Mecca in Saudi Arabia every day to say my prayers. But when I visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the resting place of the Prophet Muhammad, I am forced to leave overwhelmed with anguish at the power of extremism running amok in Islam’s birthplace. Non-Muslims are forbidden to enter this part of the kingdom, so there is no international scrutiny of the ideas and practices that affect the 13 million Muslims who visit each year.

Last week, Saudi Arabia donated $100 million to the United Nations to fund a counterterrorism agency. This was a welcome contribution, but last year, Saudi Arabia rejected a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council. This half-in, half-out posture of the Saudi kingdom is a reflection of its inner paralysis in dealing with Sunni Islamist radicalism: It wants to stop violence, but will not address the Salafism that helps justify it.

Let’s be clear: Al Qaeda, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram, the Shabab and others are all violent Sunni Salafi groupings. For five decades, Saudi Arabia has been the official sponsor of Sunni Salafism across the globe.

You can read the rest of the article which is written by a Muslim who’s an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior adviser to the Tony Blair Faith Foundation. Click here.

Sucked in by eBay. They a sent me a “Free Listing” email for a first time seller, i.e. me. I listed a camera.

When the camera sold for $610, i got an email with these outrageous charges:

eBay also charges a listing fee, but it’s peanuts or free. They want you to list your junk.

I’ve always wondered what eBay charged. I could never find the amount on their web site. Now I know: It’s 12.9%. That’s more than twice what a real estate broker charges to sell a pricey home. To eBay’s credit, I called them and said they said my first time was free. They said they would not charge me the $61 (the 10%) this time — but next time they would. I’m still paying the 2.9% fee to PayPal. Craigs List is cheaper — it’s free.

Back up. My friend didn’t backup all his files. Then his old laptop’s spinning platter hard drive crashed. He sent it to the best — Kroll Ontrack Data Recovery. Click here.

Cost to recover all his files — $950. Cheap lesson, in my humble opinion.

Australian Policing
A female police officer arrested Patrick LAWRENCE, a 22 year old male, who was caught fornicating with a pumpkin in the middle of the night.

The next day, at the Horsham Court (Victoria, Australia), LAWRENCE was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviour, public indecency and public intoxication.

LAWRENCE explained that as he was passing a pumpkin patch on his way home from a drinking session, he decided to stop. “You know how a pumpkin can be soft and squishy inside… well, there was no one around for miles – or at least I thought there wasn’t anyone around…” he stated.

LAWRENCE went on to say that he pulled over to the side of the road, picked out a pumpkin that he felt was appropriate to his purpose, cut a hole in it and proceeded to satisfy his pressing need. “I s’pose I was really into it, you know?” he commented with evident embarrassment.

In the process of doing the deed, LAWRENCE failed to notice an approaching police car and was unaware of his audience, until Senior Constable Brenda TAYLOR approached him.

‘It was an unusual situation, that’s for sure,’ said Senior Constable TAYLOR. ‘I walked up to LAWRENCE – and he’s just banging away at this pumpkin…’

Senior Constable TAYLOR went on to describe what happened when she approached LAWRENCE… “I said; ‘Excuse me sir, why are you having sex with a pumpkin?”

“LAWRENCE froze, and was clearly very surprised that I was there, but then he looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘A pumpkin? Is it midnight already?”

The court (and the magistrate) could not contain their mirth.

The Geelong Post wrote an article describing this as “The best come-back line” ever…

Harry Newton, proud new grandfather. Favorite daughter and favorite son-in-law chose Sophie. Nice name. I chose Gramps. They said it’s most appropriate, for the grumpy grandfather I’ve become. Everyone should have a great day. I know. I will.