The first word is NO. Your friends have a recommendation for you. A sure-fire stock. You don’t want it. Trust me. It’s already gone up.
The second word is RESEARCH. That’s what you need to do to figure your own Kool Aid. It’s not easy. It’s time consuming. And 99% of the time, it leads to a NO. Which suggests that you just wasted a lot of time. You didn’t. Trust me.
Yesterday, I spent all my time saying NO and doing RESEARCH. I have no brilliances today. I did add VZ back to the list.
The mess that is the FDA. My friend the research doctor says we ought to kill the FDA and let doctors choose which drugs to prescribe for their patients. He argues that, were it not for the FDA’s foot-dragging, negative attitude, we would have already had have a “cure” for most forms of cancer. By “cure”, he means it would be like diabetes and AIDs — not cured, but manageable. He believes the FDA is an infringement on our civil rights. And, worse, it kills many people who can’t get access to new drugs which the FDA is dragging its feet on approving. The FDA is so worried about new drugs’ side effects that poor sick people die. Researchers don’t bother inventing new drugs because they know they’ll never raise the money for endless FDA trials. Latest FDA fiasco — the FDA’s continuing rejection of weight loss drugs.
If we had an Italian president from New Jersey. Funniest video. Click here.
The variation in prices. I searched for a computer item. One place had it for $34. Another had it for $3. Amazing. Remember Harry’s motto: Check. Check. Check.
Windows 7. Susan is a virus magnet. She can attract viruses to her computer faster than anyone I know. IT Manager, Harry, (that’s me) has figured three solutions:
1. Move her to a MacBook Air. Dan Good gave one to his wife, Marlene. She loves it.About $1,800.
2. Move Susan to a new Windows 7 machine with even more virus protection software. And perhaps an easier move over. About $800.
3. Break her fingers.
We’re trying option 2. for now. We had a spare Windows 7 machine — a ThinkPad X200. I figure a week before another virus and a MacBook Air.
Meantime, my iPad does sterling service. Latest pluses:
1. Lightweight. Can take it to the theater and the tennis court.
2. Instant on. No waiting forever for it to start.
3. Easy to read documents and books. I like stretching the screen with my fingers. So much easier than Windows ways.
Only negative: I haven’t figured how to mark up PDF document with yellow underling and notes to myself.
Favorite photo:
Favorite charts:
Harry Newton who’s been to theatre three times this week. Most loved: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Ballet/Dance. The swans are male. Last night was a serious play “Time Stands Still.” I give it three stars out of five. The previous night was a semi-musical “Brief Encounter.” It’s four stars. Swan Lake is five stars. Amazingly for a “recession,” all shows were packed. The seats were not cheap, though we got a deal to Time Stands Still, courtesy the New York Times. They have a mailing list.
Take a look at the app GoodReader for the iPad. Allows highlighting (I use) and, I believe some other things (haven't tried yet).
Try Kaspersky Anti-Virus software to protect your Windows PC. It works great, with easy management controls. You can set up to manually scan the entire system, or specific drive and folders.
Harry,
Regarding your “Laser Pen Usage” pie chart: persons using laser pointers to play with their cats are probably infringing U.S. patent 5,443,036 entitled “Method of exercising a cat.” The ‘036 patent claims, in paraphrase, a method of (1) pointing the laser pointer near a cat such that the light spot is noticed by the cat, then (2) redirecting the laser pointer (thus moving the light spot) such that the cat gives chase.
Many, many years ago, I had the “pleasure” of enforcing the ‘036 patent. The accused infringer settled before a lawsuit was filed. Accordingly, the ‘036 patent was not tested by the Courts. In this case, I was successful in representing my client. This was the best kind of success – the client achieved its objective without even filing a lawsuit.
Regarding patent law and letters patents in general, there is little doubt that inventions and innovation are major driving forces in this technology oriented now-global society. Further, inventors and companies that have invested a lifetime of research and work, multiple millions of dollars or more, or both, in new and inventive products and methods (in face of uncertainly of whether the inventions will ever by useful or valuable in the marketplace) should be granted patent protection to enjoy the fruits of their labor and investments – thus the existence of the patent laws.
Nonetheless, as you already know, some letters patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office not only stretch the limits of the patent law, but stretch the boundaries of common sense and credulity. For some entertainment, see patentlysilly.com.
I suppose that problem is not unique to the patent law, for we live in an ever-changing and never-perfect society.
James Chung
Partner, Silicon Edge Law Group LLP
Oh man I can't wait to buy VZ and short MOT & RIMM come January if VZ actually gets the iPhone.
Harry, I have to say you know how to live – you go to the theater, you travel a lot, play tennis and sounds like you meet some interesting business people. Kudos.
thanks for the nice words. It feels less hectic than it sounds. I wish I could be more creative this morning with recommendations. I do like the little pullback in gold. I'm tryng to add a little to my gold positions.