Bean Town College Student Strikes it Rich…Penny Slots

Maybe this is fate telling us that the penny does still hold some value. A 21 year old community college student from Sommerville has won $3.5 Million from a penny slot machine at Mohegan Sun in Ct. I loved the comment at the end of the news piece on WBZ, the anchor stated that she was very attractive. I think shes wicked hot is what he should have said.

Here is the video if you want to check it out for yourself.

A different kind of gift from China…A Malware Virus

So let’s recap for those of you who have been living under a rock or were on-board Oceanic flight 815.

Poison dog food from China

Childrens toys containing lead paint

Now digital picture frame that contain a malicious virus that can capture your personal information

 I won’t try to paraphrase the article so here is a quick link to the story so that you can make sure you don’t have one of these frames lying around from the holidays and decide one rainy weekend to upload the fams fav photos and end up compromising your personal information.

Anyways my parents always told me you get what you pay for and I feel that as consumers we have demanded lower prices and we are now paying for the lower prices in our safety.

Ralph Nader making another presidential bid?

According to the AP, Our old friend Ralph Nader might be planning something to revive his Green Party. Nader is scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. Is this his way of stirring things up or is it his way of getting back into the spotlight. We will wait and see…Nader and Paul 08′ they should find a way to team up and maybe they can get 3.7% of the national vote come November. Maybe Ross Perot can come on-board as their campaign finance adviser.

The true cost of a penny…$134 Million and my 2 cents

Basic economics 101

The U.S. Produces $80 Million dollars in pennies each year at an actual cost of $134 million. 1.3 billion nickels cost $124 million dollars in 2007 (CBS_60 Minutes).

Demand for the zinc and copper used in producing pennies and nickels has caused the price increase in recent years. Personally, I would not miss the penny. I rarely carry pennies and if I do I try my hardest to get rid of them quickly. The portrait of Honest Abe, I would miss. It seems that a government that pays $1000 for a hammer mine as well keep producing a currency that doesn’t make financial sense. Change, it does seem to take a longtime (Pardon the pun). But when the Lincoln penny was first introduced in 1908 debit cards were not even a thought in the most inventive individual.

So a penny for your thoughts but with inflation the way it is, I should phrase it more like a dollar for your thoughts.