From: wyang@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (William D Yang)
Subject: Re: A square grand
Summary: A million doesn't buy what I'm looking for.
Keywords: "I want to be rich!"
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:14:26 GMT

What would I do with a million dollars (after taxes)...  it's a good
question.  Unfortunately, I'm more than aware that a million just
isn't that much money in the grand scheme of things (sigh).  So what
would I do?

First thing:  scream, yell, throw a little fit of joy.  Be INCREDIBLY
happy (wouldn't you be, if you just won a million dollars?)

Next:  Call those people whom I wanted to know about it (my closest
friends, Rosie, family members...  the usual).

Then:  I'd start getting in touch with various investment firms and a
good accountant.  Even ten or twenty million won't last forever,
especially if it's not carefully dealt with.  I'd keep about 100k or
so to play with, and spirit the rest away to secure my future in
safe-yield low risk investments.  After all, I would want it to make
me comfortable for life, not for a few years....

Then, the spending spree.  A new Mazda 626 or something (a good,
sporty, reliable car with a sun roof, CD and cassette players attached
to an incredible stereo, stick (of course!), with safety precautions
and the like).  Aproximate cost: 18-20k, financed at a low interst
rate (10,000 down or so, the rest drawn from a credit union account
(yes, I'm a member of a credit union), so that I'd be bearing interest
on money that otherwise would be going out).  A new computer or so,
and buying most of a house for my Mom (I wouldn't buy her the whole
thing -- it'd make her feel guilty (we've talked about it before)...
but definately a down payment, furniture, and so forth...  the house
payment would have to be lower than her rent, now).  This, I figure,
would blow most of my spending spree wad... but I'd be happy with it.

But how would it change my life?  I think it would...  I'd see about
paying back all the money I've accepted in financial aid over the last
few years for college, for instance...  though I'd definately finish
my degree(s), probably taking some time off to get a REAL programming
degree instead of my Computer/Information Science minor (since
computers are, for me, pretty simple to pick up for most practical
applications).  I'd want to set up a private scholarship program based
on an interview, a transcript, and one's ability to write essays well
(I wouldn't practice affirmative action, however -- I'd just choose
the best and defend it by stating that I do not WANT TO KNOW one's
ethnic origins, and there would be no place to enter such information
on the application form).  Over the years, I'm sure I'd buy lots of
books to donate to the Gluck Philosophy Library here at OSU....

I'm not too sure -- I know I'd want to work, but I don't know as what
(maybe I'd start a business and hire a funny lookin' kid with a
moustache to watch the databases, giving him LOTS of time to read
Internet newsgroups and write stuff... maybe a novel or something...)

I guess, long-term, I really would want to get into other, larger
spheres of influence....  Probably, I should note something I realized
a long time ago...  See, money isn't an end -- it's a means.  It opens
doors, and it gives you certain types of security in life... but it
does not... probably CAN not... give satisfaction.  Only by making a
mark on the world will I feel satisfied with my life -- it doesn't
matter if it's an argument which protects our way of life or an
explanation which helps someone understand something of the world
around her/him...  even something as trivial as making a person smile
and think fondly of some guy named "William D. Yang."  I want to make
a difference, to be able to honestly say to myself in the sunset of my
life "Yeah, the world's a better place because I was there..."  If I
can do that, then I'll be happy.  And, to tell you the truth, I don't
think I need someone to give me a million bucks to do that.

          -Bill
--
William D. Yang         wyang@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu         Yang.25@osu.edu
It's my opinion, but if you really want it, you can have it for a nominal fee.
ObPhilosophy:  One's mind should always reach further than one's overbite.