![\"YardleySoap\"](\"https:\/\/www.technologyinvestor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/YardleySoap.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI like buying everything from Amazon.<\/p>\n
Amazon versus Home Depot<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n My friend sells his stuff to Amazon and Home Depot. He loves dealing with Amazon. They buy what they need. They\u00a0stock according to algorithms. They’re super.<\/p>\n In contrast, Home Depot insists on being able to return — at full price — whatever they bought and didn’t sell.<\/p>\n Home Depot has 2274 stores. Amazon has one.<\/p>\n Ask yourself, which one is easier to manage?<\/p>\n Here’s five years. HD is in pink.<\/p>\n Microsoft gets upgrade<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Credit Suisse has upgraded MSFT to $84. It’s now $73.<\/p>\n I own Microsoft because I like the new management and MSFT’s new cloud direction.<\/p>\n But I own it in spite of my disgust for Windows 10, its latest operating system.<\/p>\n My new ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop came with only Windows 10. It works. Except that several of my most important software applications don’t. There are “compatibility” tricks that make old software work with Windows 10 — allegedly. But not for me. The pitch is, So, uprade your software. Except some software I like has not been “updated.” It’s old and 100% reliable — except it won’t work on Windows 10.<\/p>\n I’m up a creek without a paddle.<\/p>\n Bill Gates once famously said if you like your Microsoft software, you’ll be able to use it forever. Ha. Ha. I actually have Microsoft software that won’t work on Windows 10. Thank you, Mr Gates.<\/p>\n Same chart. Same five years. Microsoft is in green. Even HD has done better. See above.<\/p>\n Up and Down in LA LA Land<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Over the weekend, Bitcoin fell 20%. Ethereum fell 25%. I don’t know why they went up. I don’t know why they went down.<\/p>\n My investment philosophy is simple: When in doubt, stay out.<\/strong><\/p>\n I’ve read so much on these things, I qualify as an “expert.” But I don’t understand their dynamics. At least with gold, you can make it into jewelry.<\/p>\n Please don’t do stupid.<\/strong><\/span> This arrived 7:09 AM today:<\/p>\n Stupid is borrowing money to buy stocks.<\/p>\n Shakespeare said:<\/p>\n Neither a borrower nor a lender\u00a0be, For\u00a0loan\u00a0oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing\u00a0dulls the edge of husbandry.<\/em><\/p>\n Favorite quote:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n So far in life, Donald Trump has survived and thrived on the same philosophy espoused by Littlefinger in “Game of Thrones”: “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.<\/em>” — Maureen Dowd<\/p>\n I bet the teacher didn’t like this picture.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Gas stations find home-spun “humor” attracts customers.<\/strong><\/span> Neat marketing.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n