OT: The Radioactive Boy Scout

I keep this handy for those suffering from excessive hubris: I've had my share of failed attempts to predict the future. Given the choice of favoring a 13 year old, who doesn't know what is impossible, and therefore follows their own judgment, versus someone who does not take risks and follows only the consensus of experts, I'll take the 13 year old. Such 13 year olds might not achieve their goal or are proven wrong, but along the way, they tend to discover useful and interesting things. What we lose in childhood is that sense of amazement with something new and wonderful. To a member of the technical staff, humbly trudging behind the experts, such things are diversions from the designated goal. To the 13 year old, it's an adventure and a path worth following.

But I'm not handing my life's savings over to a 13 year-old's latest

May I suggest that you read through the list of experts in the above URL again and ask yourself how many potential investors (such as yourself) were chased away by the premature judgement of the experts. Would you have invested in railroads, radio, TV, monoplanes, submarines, etc against the expert judgement of such esteemed experts? Probably not.

However, if you're looking to invest in companies started by teenage entrepreneurs, maybe these will offer something that will separate you from your money:

Many. There are also many experts that say a thing is impossible when it's been done over & over.

NT

Example? You'd almost certainly have to be talking about economists ...

Alpha particle emitters are *very* nasty when ingested. Break open a smoke detector, swallow a tiny pellet of americium and see how great you feel in 3 years time.

alpha is the worst type to ingest, none escapes the body without doing damage. Most gamma does.

NT

You're right. Probably not. I didn't invest in Microsoft, either, though I did have Apple for a short time (got out after doubling my money). I don't own any RT-fusion shares or perpetual motion stocks, either.

Sorry. Not interested.

Sure, but they invested in the competitors. ;-)

Yes, alpha's 'range' is only a few inches, but that's more than enough if you've eaten or inhaled it. I must run my Geiger counter past the tinned tuna again. I did note very slightly above background readings last time I checked 6 weeks ago. Bit worrying. I'll report it if it happens again. JW stamp all their cans these days indicating the Atlantic Ocean as the source, but I don't trust 'em!

Of course, if the tinned tuna included alpha emitters, none of that would have got through the can to Geiger counter. Cursitor Doom has an unreasonable faith in his own competence.

Many did indeed. But there are also many that haven't and still are ignorant and convinced they must be right.

NT