RAobomower automates fawn chore MODERN living, just got a whole let more convenient. Visitors to the North Vancouver Home Hardware store tend to stop dead in their tracks as they come upon the Robomoewer in action. The RL500, brought to us by the good folks at Israel's Friendly Robotics, is a fully automatic software-controlled mower and mulcher. Said Home — Hardware manager Sean Gynane, of customers reactions to the Robomower crawling about on a piece of artificial turf, . “It’s right across the board — ’ everything from ‘isn’t that a_ ’ wonderful idea to ah, the Jetsons.’” Push ‘a button and the “ mower docs its thing, without needing gas or __ oil. ‘Robomower works with a ‘rechargeable 24-volt battery. The mowing perimeter for the. device: is defined by a perimeter line linked to a +8 volt... power source. The mower can automatically cut a lawn the size ofa tennis court (2,500 sq. ft.) in two to 2% hours. -Said Home’ Hardware sta- sonal manager Kevin’ McKay, -“ Initially when it charges up it immediately fooks for the . (perimeter) wire. Once it has found the wire it runs right - “around the perimeter, usually twice; Once it has done that it “has. an: idea-of the area it is: . dealing with: and | positions itself in that area and starts mowing. It knows where it’ -has:been, and it knows where « it has to’ go yet.” Automatic mowing « can be done. for. lawns with slopes as eep as 15 degrees. Show the” mower come |, -itsand the -. inower backs off. Said McKay, . “The bumpers a are very, very :: Safety. sensors. shut down the. three, mulching blades if the mower is lifted.: ° The device mows in a tri- | angular: pattern. from “many fferent- directions, allowing it:to_cut:a lawn of any geo- tric shape. The blades-are . “adjustable for six mowing heights. - Gynane-. » said --. the Robomower has been: avail- able at the North Vancouver == BUSINESS — it mower Cuts it Rebalancing your portfolio -HOME Hardware _ sea- ‘sonal ‘manager Kevin McKay shows the latest in lawnmowing technol- ogy, the battery operated Robomower. - store for two weeks. “It’s right at the end of the iawn- mowing. season, so we're planting a seed for next sea- son. We're expecting to sell some heading into Christmas. There are enough: stock bro- kers in. West Vancouver, even ‘in this market.” The, Robomower sells for | “$1,799. ; "For "that you ‘get’ the mower, the battery, perimeter wire (two packages of 250 feet), pegs; the battery pack or “the.:wire and the battery ‘ recharger. Said Gynane of the target “market: for. the _ device, “It’s definitely going to be people who have a fittle bit more.dis- - posable income. “People are looking for more ‘spare time. It allows -=them to set the Jawnmower in ‘the morning when they go to work. When they come back *” it’s finished.” Sunday, October 22, 2000 ~ North Shore News - 18 adds tax and trading costs THE best financial advisers always point out the risks and nega- tives of the investment strategies they suggest — in writing. For example, a recent issue of The Divestment Reporter extolled the virtues of invest- ing in the stock market, and regular rebalancing. But the advice itself was balanced. “Stocks pay — but are risky” said one article. It cited a study that showed small stocks returned the highest average yearly compound return (12.3%) over 62 years — compared with 3.5% for US. treasury bills. The article also pointed out the standard deviation (a mea- sure of risk) was 35.6 for the small stocks compared with only 3.3 for the T-bills. While stocks did well last year, bonds did better during most of the "80s. If you need regular, dependable income, you should lean toward high- dividend common stocks, pre- ferred shares and bonds. if matters you don’t need income and can hold for years — although perhaps not 62 years — you could take a higher risk and hold more stocks. To keep the correct per- centages of assets in your port- folio, you should regularly rebalance —- selling the asset class that has risen in value and reinvesting in cheaper asset classes. But the newsletter stresses: “Regular rebalancing i involves trade-offs,” and clearly points out the costs. Let’s say you decide your portfolio should be 50% bonds and 50% stocks. Stocks do well, so you end up with 70% of your money in stocks and oniy 30% in bonds. By rebal- ancing, you sell enough stocks - and use the money to buy bonds to get back to your 50- 30 proportion. Bur buying and selling incurs trading costs. Worse, selling investments that have risen in value lands you with a tax bill for your capital gains (unless the investments are in an RRSP or RRIF). To reduce this tax impact, The Tavestient Reporter sug- gests you minimize selling. Instead, use dividends, inter- est, normal profit-taking and any cash you realize from mergers and sales and acquisi- tions for rebalancing. : Leave non-registered growth assets to grow — in effect, compounding tax-free (just like an RRSP or RRIF) — as long as it makes sense to do so. Mike Grenby is a columnist ond independent personal, financial adviser; he'll answer questions in this colann as space allows but cannot reply personal- by, Contact bint at mike@grenty. com and sze previous colunims at . : Every Sunday featuring great : ‘ ..,heatth for: good living.” yi be Y, rad Orth ‘shore = <— f If you're thinking of starting or expanding a business, start here with the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture. We rec-. ognize the valuable contribution of small businesses to B.C’s economy and want to support your entrepreneurial efforts. Our goal is to help you find faster, easier and smarter ways of doing business. From writing a business plan to raising venture capital, _ we can contribute to your success. we es start here ~ Ask us about these great programs and services: ” "Le Canada/BC Business Services’ OneStop Business Registration © Government Agents ® Business Investment Programs © YouBET! : Business and Entrepreneurship Training ° Visions for The Future” | For mare information visit www. sb. gov.be.ca or or call 1-800-988-8299. os Britis = COLUMBIA. Ministry of Gmail Business, « - Tourism and Culture aot It’s like a pettin werw.ailnewC.com Come meet The New C at Park Royal Mall, from October 22 to 129. Mercedes-Benz’ gE The Futuie or th ‘Autom