Beating Buffett

Solyndra Files for Bankruptcy - Aug.  2011

Solyndra has been both a symbol of the promise and peril of alternative energy in its nascent stage of development.

The company not only received the backing of high-profile venture capitalists, but has been a favorite of the Obama administration and Department of Energy loan funding.

Solyndra received a $535 million loan guarantee through the Department of Energy’s 1705 loan guarantee program in September 2009, which was the first such loan guarantee provided by the federal government.

Solyndra has been prominently featured in the argument from the government that green energy creates jobs.

President Obama even appeared for a photo op on the floor of a Solyndra plant.

Today’s Wall Street journal featured an article about man’s life expectancy throughout history. 

They included this handy chart…

I was especially curious as to how the data for the Cro-Magnon Era and the Renaissance Period were verified. I guess they simply used government census data but you never know, do you?

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:

She said, “If you were my husband I’d give you poison.”
He said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”A Member of Parliament to Benjamin Disraeli:

“Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”
“That depends, Sir,” said Disraeli, “whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.”

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” - Winston Churchill

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” Clarence Darrow

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.” - Moses Hadas

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” - Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” - Oscar Wilde

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…. if you have one.” - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

Churchill, in response - “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second…. if there is one.”

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