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PaulTD
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B.S. in computer science/minors in Russian and statistics. M.S. in psychology/behavioral science. 15 years in computer systems design, primarily oil and gas, 13 years as a psychotherapist, fluent in Spanish, now have a small business in personal computer sales and service. Have shifted my... More
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  • Solving the Greek Debt Problem
    Thinking this morning about the state of world affairs, I wonder what SA readers think of the following solution to the Greek debt problem?

    Suppose Greece were to create a beautiful, autonomous homeland for the Palestinians, and sell this paradise to the Palestinians (paid for by the US/UN/Israel) for the cost of the bulk of Greece's debt? 

    The Palestinian problem would be solved.  The two-state solution would be viable.  The Greek debt crisis would pass.  The Palestinians would move from an Israeli-occupied ghetto to their OWN HOMELAND, an absolute paradise compared to their current predicament, and could become a part of the European Union.  The Israelis would get everything that they want, and would be credited with saving the world  financial system.  The Arab nations would no longer have a reason to be at war with Israel.

    Barack Obama could claim the honor of solving the most difficult and longest-lasting political issue in recent history.

    I think it's a win-win-win.  What might other readers think?

    PaulTD.

    Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
    Sep 30 2:11 PM | Link | Comment!
  • How Torture Could Have Saved America from an Economic Meltdown.

     

    You hear a lot about torture these days, the pros and cons, different techniques, debates about the effectiveness, etc. But what I haven't heard anyone suggest is that there is too little torture. So let me be so bold as to say that we need a lot more torture in this country. Everyone is getting off too easily.

    I don't say this lightly, I'm deadly serious. Because torture is a serious business. And life is a serious business. And business is a serious business. Business like the mortgage industry for example. Taking out a mortgage is a serious business. It's a 15 to 30 year commitment to enrich someone else by paying an exorbitant interest rate, while at the same time taking on the financial responsibility of maintaining a property and all of the associated hardware. What better way to test the veracity of a potential borrowers statements than to torture them? There is no better way!

    Imagine the grief and suffering that we could have spared America if everyone who was applying for a loan had to undergo torture to verify their income, their liabilities, and whether or not they intended to fulfill their obligations under the mortgage contract. I doubt that even 10% of borrowers could have passed such a strict test. Think of how many liars we would've caught! There would never have been a real estate bubble, because all of the crooks, ne'er-do-wells, dreamers, liars, cheats, and schemers would have been caught in the torture net before they were ever able to abscond with significant sums of money. The due diligence of torturing prospective borrowers could have prevented a worldwide economic meltdown and enormous suffering and financial carnage. It could've prevented 20% unemployment, despair, government bankruptcy, insolvency of Medicare and Medicaid, the overwhelming number of food stamp participants. Torture could have done so much good for this country!
     
    Few people can fully appreciate the diabolical genius of George W. Bush and company, and now Barack Obama and company as they carry on this quietly brilliant tradition of torture. Torture should be extended into every aspect of our lives. 9/11 would never have happened if every potential airline passenger had been tortured before boarding, to determine what they might know or what their intent was, or even what weapons they were hiding.
     
    So many crimes could be prevented if people were routinely tortured to determine what they were hiding, what dark secrets they were carrying around, what monstrous evil intent was being nurtured in their souls. Imagine if every public official had to periodically undergo grueling torture to certify their continued allegiance to America, and their benign intent.
     
    Yes, torture is one of those things that we can't live without. Torture is an investment in America's future. Widespread and routine torture is the only way to ensure the quality of our lives. In a future blog I will show how torturing pets can be even more effective than torturing their owners.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Paul TD.
    May 18 10:28 AM | Link | Comment!
  • Saving money on computers

    In my previous blog I detailed the ways my wife and I saved money by driving a new car and trading in every two years. In this blog I'd like to discuss ways to save money on a computer.

     

    I recently read a comment by a seeking Alpha reader, in which he discussed buying a new computer at Best Buy. He paid a total of $1250 for a computer, monitor, and printer. That seems excessive to me.

     

    For starters, he bought the PC locally on Long Island, which means he paid state and local sales taxes. Where I live in Arizona, state and local sales taxes add up to 9.1%! I don't know what taxes are on Long Island, but here in Arizona that would have been an extra $104, enough to buy a monitor or printer.

     

    I build my own computers, which saves a lot of money, but even if you aren't prepared to build your own you can still save substantial amounts of money with an online purchase from newegg.com. They have several desktop machines for $400 or less including shipping, that come complete with Windows 7. With an online purchase you pay no sales tax. You can use your previous monitor and if you need a new printer, you can buy those for less than $100. (I prefer Brother printers because of the low printing cost, ease of installation, and on some models you can refill your own cartridges, which can save you $100 per year or more depending on how much you print).

     

    An even better option in my opinion, is to purchase a small form factor Shuttle computer, also from newegg.com, and buy your own copy of Windows at the same time for about $140 (Windows 7 professional 64-bit). Having your own copy of Windows allows you to install it on each new computer that you buy in the future (one at a time). The small form factor Shuttle can be purchased complete except for operating system, for about $470. These are small, lightweight, high quality computers about the size of a four-slice toaster and usually made from aluminum. They can be upgraded with more memory, faster processor, video card, or larger hard drive. If you replace them every two years, it's not difficult to resell them locally or on eBay. In this way your computer stays relatively modern, you re-cycle your operating system, and you recoup a part of the cost each time you upgrade.

     

    Because I build and repair computers, I know that people tend to spend far more at local electronics stores than is necessary, and frequently they end up with a computer that was built with older technology, using specifications that were developed many months previously. They end up buying expensive extended warranties, bundled printers and monitors of low-quality, and also pay state and local taxes on the entire purchase. They throw away hundreds of dollars in doing this, hundreds of dollars that they could have invested in a bargain stock like RIG!

     

     



    Disclosure: Long RIG, no position in newegg.com.
    Tags: RIG, Computers
    Jul 09 11:13 AM | Link | Comment!
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