BBC News - US brands Muammar Gaddafi 'delusional' after interview
No official position, so cannot resign. Deny deny deny. Skills to remember. He did not rule so long by luck alone.
Monday, February 28, 2011
How can this be explained as sane?
Sandy Banks: Cutbacks send the wrong message on unions - latimes.com: "California prison guards are among the highest paid in the nation, with a benefit package that borders on the obscene: They can retire at the age of 50 with a pension worth 90% of their salaries."
Friday, February 25, 2011
Private vs Public
Midwest union battle: Wisconsin Assembly approves collective-bargaining measure - latimes.com
Are the private sector workers finally figuring it out that their taxes are paying for the higher salaries of the public sector workers? If so, the standard "rich vs poor" dynamic could shift to "overpaid relative to market value (public) vs paid market value (private).
How else will the political landscape be reorganized by realignment of interests due to a greater understanding of who is paying for what. Might Medicare and Social Security be affected.
Are the private sector workers finally figuring it out that their taxes are paying for the higher salaries of the public sector workers? If so, the standard "rich vs poor" dynamic could shift to "overpaid relative to market value (public) vs paid market value (private).
How else will the political landscape be reorganized by realignment of interests due to a greater understanding of who is paying for what. Might Medicare and Social Security be affected.
Let's hope they are wrong
Libyan forces shoot protesters - Africa - Al Jazeera English
What a bunch of BS artists--with weapons.
And they just figured this out?
Google Alters Search Algorithm to Avoid Promoting 'Low-Quality' Sites | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
It's reasonably clear that Google is balancing revenue and search results. The spam sites place more of their own ads and thus generate more short term revenue but the the spam sites are not very valuable thereby degrading the user experience and Google's brand.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I'm confused how Twitter revolutionists could favor Iranian type government
As Arab World Shakes, Iran’s Influence Grows - NYTimes.com
The rebellions were organized using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. Iran has shut down access to such sights whenever convenient. Why would the social network revolutionaries support or invite the influent of a regime that is likely to shutter the facilitator of their own success?
I take this a a case of faith versus logic. Unfortunately I think that means that Iran has the upper hand.
The world's biggest family: Ziona Chan has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren | Mail Online
The world's biggest family: Ziona Chan has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren | Mail Online: "Rinkmini, one of Mr Chana's wives who is 35 years old, said: 'We stay around him as he is the most important person in the house. He is the most handsome person in the village."
Under what conditions is he arrangement optimal or awful?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Search Optimization: Great Analogy
Search Optimization and Its Dirty Little Secrets - NYTimes.com: "When you read the enormous list of sites with Penney links, the landscape of the Internet acquires a whole new topography. It starts to seem like a city with a few familiar, well-kept buildings, surrounded by millions of hovels kept upright for no purpose other than the ads that are painted on their walls."
Moral of the story
Americans slain by captors on hijacked yacht; pirates killed, arrested - CNN.com
Don't sail off the coast of Somalia.
Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers: economic evidence for human estrus?☆
Ovulatory cycle effects on tip earnings by lap dancers: economic evidence for human estrus?☆
Do strippers know this?
Do they schedule work appropriately?
It this really a the proverbial $20 bill on the sidewalk?
Women on the pill averaged $37 (and had no performance peak) versus $53 for women off-pill.
I surmise that men have a harder time saying no to ovulating women in general and sales managers could shift schedules to take advantage. Think car dealerships, clothing stores, restaurants...
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Why do rich dudes get remarried?
Kelsey Grammer Engaged To Kayte Walsh…But Not Yet Divorced! | Stupid Celebrities Gossip
Like she's not going to stay with him for the free ride?
Even with a prenup hes agreeing to a lawsuit that could be avoided.
Hormones are the only answer because it's beyond logic.
Great quote
Unrest spreads across Arab world - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "'We don't fear death anymore, let the army come and kill us to show the world what kind of savages they are,'"
Not shocking but a fun read
Plastic Surgery Among Ethnic Groups Mirrors Beauty Ideals - NYTimes.com
Would have been funny if one ethnicity was getting all the penis enhancements.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Belgians strip in protest over political deadlock - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Belgians strip in protest over political deadlock - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
I wish they would try this in Iran or Yemen. Shall they be blessed with safety.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Egypt: Military disbands Egypt parliament, suspends constitution - latimes.com
Egypt: Military disbands Egypt parliament, suspends constitution - latimes.com
I'm afraid that declaring victory for democracy in Eqypt is premature, as it was is Iraq. The absence of an occupying force in Egypt improved the chance of achieving democracy because a potential dictator does not have an obvious scapegoat. But, if the military finds that power is fun, then a benevolent occupier, if there is such a thing, might increase the probability of democracy. Who would be the occupier most able to facilitate the transition to democracy?
Not the US, because to easy to rally against.
Neither Russia nor China, because their democratic credentials are week.
One of the main considerations should be who the Egyptians want. Let them lead a dialog.
The quote below shows some complications.
"We don't want to leave," said Mohammed Shaheen. "They'll never give up the emergency laws. And they'll use them to put people in jail."
As the campers watched the army clear the square, a parade of police and ordinary Egyptians materialized like a flash flood. The cops in blue sweaters and berets were raised on people's shoulders and waved Egyptian flags.
"The police and army are one," they chanted. The policemen pumped their fists and converged with the protesters' stage. "God is great, God is great," the two groups roared, while cars beeped and inched forward, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Some responded in anger at the police. One young man tried to charge them. "The police killed us! Don't believe them," he shouted, before a group pulled him back.
Others looked on, bemused. Tahrir Square was slowly returning to normal. They believed the people had won.
"We are taking our freedom," said Wael Mustafa, 40. He smiled at the scene of soldiers, protesters, police and cars bumper to bumper. He predicted that if the army didn't keep its word, "the people will come back."
As the campers watched the army clear the square, a parade of police and ordinary Egyptians materialized like a flash flood. The cops in blue sweaters and berets were raised on people's shoulders and waved Egyptian flags.
"The police and army are one," they chanted. The policemen pumped their fists and converged with the protesters' stage. "God is great, God is great," the two groups roared, while cars beeped and inched forward, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Some responded in anger at the police. One young man tried to charge them. "The police killed us! Don't believe them," he shouted, before a group pulled him back.
Others looked on, bemused. Tahrir Square was slowly returning to normal. They believed the people had won.
"We are taking our freedom," said Wael Mustafa, 40. He smiled at the scene of soldiers, protesters, police and cars bumper to bumper. He predicted that if the army didn't keep its word, "the people will come back."
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Can employers discriminate against smokers
Tobacco-Free Hiring in Workplaces - NYTimes.com: "About 1 in 5 Americans still smoke, and smoking remains the leading cause of preventable deaths. And employees who smoke cost, on average, $3,391 more a year each for health care and lost productivity, according to federal estimates."
Most likely do already.
Will Eqypt's government be more western or Islamic
The protesters either would likely want more western, as a strict Islamic regime is likely to restrict the Twitter and Facebook accounts used to organize the protests. Unfortunately, for the protesters, the Islamists are likely better organized at the center and will receive money from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria etc. The last thing the dictatorial Islamic regimes want it for their own youth to witness the success of other movements in freeing the the political system and the Internet.
I wish Chris would have...
A New York laundry finds Chris Lee's missing shirt | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times
Come out and said that he and his wife are swingers.
Nokia-Microsoft: I'm think it will work
Nokia-Microsoft: Will they succeed or continue to limp along in smartphones? - Computerworld
MS has a good OS that is easy to use. Nokia has more trusting customers than any hardware maker in the world and these customers will upgrade to smart phones over time. The processor requirements of the OS might be high now, but in a year or so will not pose a hurdle.
Amazingly manipulative and scary
Ahmadinejad says Egypt, Tunisia were inspired by Iran's anti-Western protests
Every line of his is contrived and strategic, often so precisely the opposite of reality that his ability to say them convincingly is incredible.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Super Bowl seating update: Rumor Mill | ProFootballTalk
Rumor Mill | ProFootballTalk: "The issue came out of nowhere a couple hours before kickoff, when it was revealed that the fire marshal hadn’t approved the temporary seating. It’s hard to understand how the NFL sold tickets to seats that hadn’t been approved, but Goodell insisted that the decision not to let the ticket holders into those seats was a necessary one."
Some 400 ticket-holding fans denied seats at Super Bowl XLV - CNN.com
Some 400 ticket-holding fans denied seats at Super Bowl XLV - CNN.com
I look forward to learning that union rules prevented anyone from putting in the seats on Saturday or by working late.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
How about getting the main idea in a few minutes?
How to read a (good) book in one hour. | Savage Minds
Read the first and last page of the intro.
Read the first and last page of the conclusion.
Understand the pictures, graphs, tables, etc.
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