Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : The New QUALCOMM - Coming Into Buy Range -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hedgefund who wrote (5600)	12/27/2009 1:02:28 PM
From: Maurice Winn	1 Recommendation Respond to of 9130

HF, my trophy Toaster is displayed beside me right now, on a shelf in my bedroom, but the grandchildren have taken the Toast out of it when they play with it. It must be on the floor in their "house". When pushing down the "cook" lever, it makes a good 'tick tick tick ... ' timer sound which they like. For a year or so, it was on display in our living room. I would like to be able to actually use it, which would require a transformer because we have 230 volts here, which will toast the Toaster in seconds if I put the right plug on it and connected it. Some houses in NZ do have transformers so that 110 volt devices can be used. These days, most electronics are able to use either voltage but it's still at trap for young players and especially those wet behind the ears [water being a notoriously good conductor of electricity]. I remain disaffected because I didn't get both awards [my after hours "End of Year" price being right on the money] but understand the socialist impulse to "spread the wealth around". It's an admirable Toaster not simply as a trophy but also because it's a good exhibit of the sterling work which used to be part of making things built to last. Now, flimsy disposable Made in China fakes fill our ephemeral world. I hanker for the time when summer holidays went on forever and everything seemed permanent and certainly worth repairing. Admittedly, it's nice that the ephemera is so cheap, not requiring half a year's pay to buy the latest piece of modernity. When cars, colour tvs, microwave ovens, calculators, computers and video recorders first came out, they were serious financial decisions involving very large chunks of personal GDP. Now they are near-enough to free. In fact second hand ones are free, requiring no work, or trivial work, to restore them to functionality. Cellphones 20 years ago cost $thousands and had poor coverage while dropping calls and being poor quality. Now, cyberphones and Smartbooks are swarming and not far off free [or are free with a plan]. They will be everywhere. There should, of course, be a Smartbook called "The Toaster". Built right, it would sell by the billion. Mqurice