It’s my 69th birthday today. Send gold bullion. I’ll pay shipping.
I like gold. It keeps going up.
I’ve been studying happiness recently. The classic philosophers say happiness can only be found within. You need to break attachments to external things, and “cultivate an attitude of acceptance.”
The Constitution talks about “the pursuit of happiness,” but never defines what it is.
I’m happy, but confused as to why I’m happy. I need to understand “why” for my upcoming book, “In Search Of The Perfect Investment.“
Please. drop your ideas on happiness in Comments below.
My wife says I’m grumpy, not happy. She’s teaching me “to have fun.”
How can you not like SWZ? All those delicious, well-managed Swiss companies and that nice, strong Swiss franc.
The Economy: When Will Happy Days Be Here Again? That’s the title of an article on Wharton’s finance and investment web site. Here’s the article’s beginning:
The latest economic reports show the U.S. recovery has faltered. But someday, surely, there will be a real recovery. What forces will drive that upturn? And will the healthy economy of the future look different from those of the past — establishing a “new normal?”
Two intertwined factors are critical to any rebound, according to many experts: Home prices must stop declining and begin to rise, and consumers must spend more freely. In addition, exports must continue to grow and businesses and consumers must feel the government is making significant progress in resolving its deficit problems and clearing away regulatory uncertainty. Government efforts like stimulus spending and keeping interest rates low are not expected to be key factors in a recovery.
Given the many problems afflicting the economy, a vibrant recovery could be years away. The economy grew at an anemic 1.8% annual rate in the first quarter, down from 3.1% in the fourth quarter of 2010. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke offered little optimism for the immediate future, calling the recovery “uneven” and acknowledging that it is unlikely that the central bank can solve the economy’s woes by itself.
“It’s too soon to be talking about a return to a healthy economy; there is a long mid-range period in our future,” says Susan M. Wachter, a Wharton real estate professor, adding: “We are three, four, five years away from being back to what might be considered the ‘new normal.'” The key obstacle, she notes, is the real estate market — commercial and residential. “Construction is a job-intensive industry. It’s usually the sector, in terms of employment, that leads the job recovery, and that’s missing in action this time around. It makes the overall recovery far more vulnerable to other negatives.”
To have a vibrant recovery and economic expansion, housing has to go from “being a headwind to a tailwind,” according to Mark Zandi, chief economist and cofounder of Moody’s Economy.com. “It’s hard to get enthusiastic about the economy with house prices falling,” adds Wharton emeritus finance professor Marshall E. Blume. “The consumer has to feel that the economy is on the right track, and there are not many headlines saying it is on the right track right now. The consumer hears this and says, ‘I’ve got to be careful.'” With inflation taken into account, consumer spending has been virtually flat in recent months, and surveys show consumer confidence sagging.
Consumers, who traditionally account for about 70% of economic activity in the U.S., have a number of legitimate worries. While layoffs have abated somewhat, many employers are limping along, leaving workers to worry that they could be out on the street if the conditions get worse instead of better. On June 3, the Labor Department reported that only 54,000 jobs had been created in May, compared to about 220,000 in each of the preceding three months. Also, despite a dramatic surge in the past two years, the stock market remains below its past peaks, and gains for the past decade are very meager. Many people feel poorer than they were four or five years ago, especially when they consider what their 401(k)s and other investments would be worth today had there been no financial crisis, and returns had continued at an historical rate.
You can read the rest here.
Oil. We have to break our addiction to it. James Woolsey (ex-CIA head) pointed out today on CNBC that the $100 billion+ bride the Saudi King just gave his people was equivalentto a $1,000 tax on every American family.
Shop your meds around. The prescription drug business disgusts. I pay a small fortune each month to have my occasional prescriptions covered. They cover remarkably little, typically only cheap generic drugs.
Here are quotes for one prescription I shopped around yesterday. The cheapest (Drugstore.com) will save me 34%, though shipping will eat up a little of the savings.
| Duane Read | $502.00 |
| Morris Pharmacy (Just off Central Park) | $560.00 |
| Rite-Aid | $396.10 |
| Drugstore.com | $371.96 |
| Walgreens (online) | $433.21 |
The greatest birthday present ever. My dear friend Stever Pearlman gave me this gadget last night.
It’s called a Boxwave capacitive stylus. You use its rubber tip to punch letters into your iPhone, BlackBerry, Thunderbolt, iPad — all and any of those finger-touch gadgets we schlepp around. This $15 thingee is a zillion times faster than your finger and a million times more accurate. It also comes in a $22.95 version with a ballpoint pen at the other end. I haven’t tried that one. I have no idea how this thingee works. I’ve tried other things, including pencial erasers. This is the only thing that works. If you carry a smartphone, you must have this device. Click here. The gadget with the ballpoint is here.
You do not need to read BusinessWeek — ever. Since the Bloomberg organization bought it, it has become irrelevant and, worse, boring.
Above is this week’s cover. The cover story has something to do with BW’s recommendations on fixing the U.S.
Their first recommendation (from Germany): Discourage americans from buying homes.
I don’t make this stuff up.
The ultimate insult
Once, at a restaurant, a fan came up to Groucho Marx and said, ‘Excuse me. I’m your biggest fan. Could I ask you a favor?”
“Sure.?” answered an annoyed Groucho.
“See my wife sitting over there? She’s an even bigger fan of yours than I am. Would you be willing to insult her?”
Groucho replied, “Sir, if my wife looked like that, I wouldn’t need any help thinking of insults.”
Harry Newton who promises more on Internet startups on Monday. Meantime, check out the web sites for these hot Internet companies Gilt Groupe, Ideeli, Airbnb, Zygna, Pandora, Strava, Fitbit, Endomondo, FitnessKeeper and MapMyFitness.
My daughter called her mother this morning to discuss dogs and food. Usual stuff. Meantime, she forgets to call me. When I complain, she replies,
“You’ve had so many birthdays, it’s hard to keep track.”
Is that a nice thing to say to your ageing, decripid father, who is forced to idle his few remaining days away awaiting a grandchild? Any sex. Any color. I’m not shy.
Your blog is very interesting. Ya, I think we should be happy every time. because our happiness is also necessary for our health and for our proper successfully work I have also read some tips about How to be happy in Health & Happiness web magazine. In
this magazine there are many tips about Happiness, Self-development, Health treatment, mental health & about our life style.
Happy Birthday Harry. Just had a cigar with my 89 year old father in law. Still swimming 4 or 5 times a week, still going strong, still sharp as a whistle. We'll be reading your blog for another 20 years at least!
HAPPINESS
A Disciple says to his
Master, “I am in desperate need of help – or I’ll go crazy. We’re
living in a single room – my wife, my children and my in-laws. So our
nerves are on edge, we yell and scream at one another. The room is
hell.”
“Do you promise to do whatever I tell you?” said the Master gravely.
“I swear I shall do anything.”
“Very well. How many animals do you have?”
“A cow, a goat and six chickens.”
“Take them all into the room with you. Then come back after a week.”
The
disciple was appalled. But he had promised to obey! So he took the
animals in. A week later he came back, a pitiable figure, moaning, “I’m a
nervous wreck. The dirt! The stench! The noise! We’re all on the
verge of madness!”
“Go back,” said the Master, “and put the animals out.”
The
man ran all the way home. He came back the following day, his eyes
sparkling with joy. “How sweet life is! The animals are out. The home is
a Paradise – so quiet and clean and roomy!”
The Master met a very old neighbor shuffling along with a cane in his hand.
“Good morning,” he called out. “And how are you these days?”
“Not well,” said the man in a feeble voice.
“I used to walk around the block every morning before breakfast. Now I feel so weak I can only get halfway and then have to turn around and come back.” — from “More One Minute Nonsense”
Happy
Birthday ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ to You¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Birthday ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ to You ¸¸.•*¨Happy
Birthday, Dear Harry *•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪…to you…and many more!!!!
It's good to have your birthday near father's day. I am sure all your children will remember both. – Jeff
Hope you had a good day. You can have the gold from my teeth…when im dead…:)
The best legitimate drug prices from the most efficient provider may be found at Costco’s pharmacy department in-store.
And… Happy Birthday.
Is happiness to be found by getting lower prices for what you buy and higher returns on what you own?
Happy Birthday Harry-When I make it back to NYC I will buy you breakfast at your favorite UWS diner or go fror cupcakes down the street!
A loyal follower from KC
Harry, Alls I've got for you is an old joke so here goes……Why is semen white and urine yellow?……..ans: So you'll know if you're coming or going……Happy Birthday Harry.
Happy Birthday Harry! Thanks for your inspiring words of wisdom and little tips and bits of informationI start every day with!
Happy Birthday, Harry!
One further comment. The saying “grumpy old men” has been around a long long time. Centuries. Apparently as we age, we men tend to get grumpier. Why? Can't answer that (but before Viagra I can perhaps guess), but once I understood it does happens with age, I could try to watch out when the evil mood strikes me. Time for a nice glass of wine, maybe.
Still looking for a job
You are 69 , still play tennis, and you are still upright. What is there to be unhappy about?
Happy Birthday. After 69 years just be Happy that your Happy.
Would be nice to understand why, but not important.
Just enjoy it.
OK, I'll get you a copy when it comes out! You've been great sharing the Telecom Dictionary with me.
I used to run around with you in the 70's. How did you get so much older than me? :-))
Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Having financial security in retirement is a first big step to happiness, i.e., the reduction/elimination of worry. Most seniors today don't have that. Doing things you like, tennis, travel and such, also helps. Having good friends and doing things with them is another biggy. Having meaning in your current activities, like doing “good” in some capacity, certainly contributes. Looking back over the past and being proud of your history and accomplishments doesn't hurt. Spending time with family, kids, grandkids, even grand fuzzies (my son's 2 dogs) works too. Owning and loving a dog, ala Ben Stein, also is very good. I've never seen a dog complain, bitch, remember something you said they didn't like 10 years ago, or not be happy just to see his/her owner. Taking care of yourself, both physically, emotionally and physiologically, makes a difference too. Care to join me for a comfortable 5 mile jog?
For more, see my forthcoming best selling book (I'm a contributor) “TrendSetters: The World's Leading experts Reveal Top Trends to Help You (yes, you, Harry!) Achieve Health, Wealth & Success”. Due out in October.
Happy Birthday Harry! You are an inspiration, thank you for faithfully writing this column!
Feliz Aniversario Harry, Happy Birthday! and don't look so hard to define happiness, better spend your time appreciating and enjoying the life that you already have. Big hug from New York.(from your Brazilian blog follower)
Happy Birthday, Harry! Mine too, today, and a niece who actually lives and sings in NY (Pamela Jones). I hope you have a WONDERFUL day that makes you HAPPY.
Happy Birthday, Harry! Typically, we receive gifts on our birthday. Have you ever thought about giving on your birthday? New York has limitless opportunities for random acts of kindness.
On happiness, I recommend “Happiness is a serious problem” by Dennis Prager.
Happy Birthday, Harry! Go play 3 sets of tennis and then treat yourself to your favorite restaurant.
Enjoy the day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY…from our current vacation spot in Jackson Hole and Yellowstone where the temps range from 50-70 degrees. By they way, Jackson Hole has been brought back to a pretty little town again. Don't know how they got the fast food chains out of downtown but sure glad they did. Have a great weekend birthday Harry.