+ Apple's new OS is out tomorrow. Microsoft's won't be out for 18 months, at least.
+ Skyline Windows web site has a form asking if you want someone to call you? But it neglects to ask for your phone number.
+ Immediatech offers a demo on its web site, then fails to deliver. When I emailed the founder, he said, "Sorry," but failed to send the demo.

It's really hard to piss off a customer, but the biggest and best do it every day.

Four secrets to long life:
1. Don't smoke.
2. Don't carry too much weight.
3. Do eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
4. Exercise.

This from a university study quoted by MarketWatch. To which I'd add:
1. Fasten your seatbelt.
2. Don't lift heavy stuff or do stupid things with your back.
3. Get a job you genuinely enjoy.
4. Nap.
5. Save for your old age.

Desperation in old age is not pretty: A Harvard Business School classmate of mine visited me yesterday. He's penniless and jobless. He lost all his money in the tech bubble by violating three basic rules:
1. The 15% Stop Loss Rule. He put and left his money in WorldCom, etc.
2. The Diversification Rule. He put most of his money into a risky startup.
3. The Management Rule. He didn't manage the startup. An idiot did and lost all his money.

Stockmarkets continue to look ugly. Don't ape my desperate classmate. Get rid of junk stocks you own -- if you still own any.

Predictable, but sad: Last night DaimlerChrysler said its net income fell 30% in the first quarter, as profits at its most important division -- Mercedes Car Group -- evaporated amid falling sales, quality problems and a huge restructuring of its tiny-car unit, Smart. I own a Mercedes wagon, my second. As I took delivery of it, I marveled at an array of really stupid design features -- cup holders that break, a passenger seat that insists on crunching the passenger when the back seat is down, a clock that's impossible to adjust, a tiny glove compartment that resists closing, no method of installing a GPS after the fact, etc. I turned to our salesman (the top one at the Manhattan Mercedes dealership) and asked, "Does the management of this company listen?" His reply: "No." He continued, "Nor have they ever asked us for our feedback on what our customers want. I've only been here 20 years."

How Microsoft compares to Google. Go to sandbox.msn.com. Go to www.Google.com/options. The contrast is amazing.

Three things in life are certain:
The madam opened the brothel door to see a rather dignified, well-dressed good looking man in his late 40s or early 50s. "May I help you?" she asked. "I want to see Natalie," the man replied.

"Sir, Natalie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would prefer someone else," said the madam.

"No. I must see Natalie," was the man's reply. Just then, Natalie appeared and announced to the man that she charged $1,000 a visit. Without hesitation, the man pulled out ten one hundred dollar bills, gave them to Natalie, and they went upstairs. After an hour, the man calmly left.

The next night, the same man appeared again, demanding to see Natalie. Natalie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row- too expensive - and there were no discounts. The price was still $1,000. Again the man pulled out the money, gave it to Natalie and they went upstairs.

After an hour, he left. The following night the man was there again. Everyone was astounded that he had come for the third consecutive night, but he paid Natalie and they went upstairs.

After their session, Natalie questioned the man. "No one has ever used me three nights in a row. Where are you from?" she asked.

The man replied, "South Carolina."

"Really" she said. "I have family in South Carolina."

"I know," the man said. "Your father died. I came to bring you your inheritance which is $3,000 after your father's estate taxes."

The moral of the story is that three things in life are certain:
1. Death
2. Taxes, and
3. Being screwed by a lawyer.


Harry Newton

This column is about my personal search for the perfect investment. I don't give investment advice. For that you have to be registered with regulatory authorities, which I am not. I am a reporter and an investor. I make my daily column -- Monday through Friday -- freely available for three reasons: Writing is good for sorting things out in my brain. Second, the column is research for a book I'm writing called "In Search of the Perfect Investment." Third, I encourage my readers to send me their ideas, concerns and experiences. That way we can all learn together. My email address is . You can't click on my email address. You have to re-type it . This protects me from software scanning the Internet for email addresses to spam. I have no role in choosing the Google ads. Thus I cannot endorse any, though some look mighty interesting. If you click on a link, Google may send me money. That money will help pay Claire's law school tuition. Read more about Google AdSense, click here and here.
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