Posts
Canada out-weeds California
4 hours ago
Thursday, March 09, 2006
O'Reilly Radar > Entrepreneurial Proverbs
O'Reilly Radar > Entrepreneurial Proverbs: "Entrepreneurial Proverbs "
Truce and troops -- The Washington Times
An excellent idea of appointing an internationally respected person to get involved in the Darfur cause--?Colin Powell...
Truce and troops -- The Washington Times: "Unless more is done immediately to end the slaughter of innocents in Darfur, historians may treat today's world leaders about as kindly as the Government of Sudan is currently treating its own people.
History is instructive. In the early 1940s, Allied leaders dismissed as exaggerated reports of what was happening in Nazi concentration camps. It wasn't until late in the war that those who escaped finally convinced world leaders otherwise. After the war, leaders came together and pledged 'never again.' But never again has become again and again -- in Cambodia, Uganda, Bosnia, Rwanda, Chechnya and now Darfur"...
That's why the United Nations should immediately appoint a highly visible and well-respected international figure to address, and end, the slaughter in Darfur. Peacekeepers alone cannot solve the problem. Darfur needs peacemakers as well.
Truce and troops -- The Washington Times: "Unless more is done immediately to end the slaughter of innocents in Darfur, historians may treat today's world leaders about as kindly as the Government of Sudan is currently treating its own people.
History is instructive. In the early 1940s, Allied leaders dismissed as exaggerated reports of what was happening in Nazi concentration camps. It wasn't until late in the war that those who escaped finally convinced world leaders otherwise. After the war, leaders came together and pledged 'never again.' But never again has become again and again -- in Cambodia, Uganda, Bosnia, Rwanda, Chechnya and now Darfur"...
That's why the United Nations should immediately appoint a highly visible and well-respected international figure to address, and end, the slaughter in Darfur. Peacekeepers alone cannot solve the problem. Darfur needs peacemakers as well.
Both Sides of Inequality - New York Times
A concise distillation of the work of the sociologist, Annette Lareau, who has studied class specific parenting styles and how this effects future prospects of children...
Both Sides of Inequality - New York Times: "Lareau's work is well known among sociologists, but neglected by the popular media. And that's a shame because through her close observations and careful writings — in books like 'Unequal Childhoods' — Lareau has been able to capture the texture of inequality in America. She's described how radically child-rearing techniques in upper-middle-class homes differ from those in working-class and poor homes, and what this means for the prospects of the kids inside."
The thing you learn from her work is that it's wrong to say good parents raise successful kids and bad parents raise unsuccessful ones. The story is more complicated than that.
Both Sides of Inequality - New York Times: "Lareau's work is well known among sociologists, but neglected by the popular media. And that's a shame because through her close observations and careful writings — in books like 'Unequal Childhoods' — Lareau has been able to capture the texture of inequality in America. She's described how radically child-rearing techniques in upper-middle-class homes differ from those in working-class and poor homes, and what this means for the prospects of the kids inside."
The thing you learn from her work is that it's wrong to say good parents raise successful kids and bad parents raise unsuccessful ones. The story is more complicated than that.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Boing Boing: Science News on brain "fitness"
Boing Boing: Science News on brain "fitness": "Science News on brain 'fitness'
Science News magazine has published a two-part series on how lifestyle choices affect brain 'fitness.' The first article is about how physical exercise actually increases the number of nerve cells, strengthens their connection, and can slow the progression of neurological disorders. From the article:
While evidence is soaring for exercise's brain benefits, physical fitness in the United States is plummeting. According to a report issued recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one-fifth of people 18 and over exercise for less than 10 minutes a week. Only 46 percent of adults performed the recommended 30 minutes or more of brisk walking or other moderate exercise 5 days a week.
Whereas public health experts worry about the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on rates of heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems, (UCLA neurobiologist Fernando) Gómez-Pinilla is concerned that a lack of physical exercise could also foretell a wave of decreasing brain health for the United States.
'Locomotion played a very important role in evolution. Animals had to move to find food and run away from predators. Exercise had a direct action on brain regions related to cognition,' he says. 'Normally, when two functions evolve in this way, you can't separate them.' Link
The second article in the series surveys research on brain food, specifically how certain diets affect brain health. From the article:
(UCLA neuroscientist Greg M. Cole) says that both fish oil and curcumin may eventually become widely used in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, while causing few side effects. On the other hand, recently created drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases are expensive and often have troubling side effects.
Cole notes that people have been eating fish and curries safely for centuries. 'We're interested in these approaches that "
Science News magazine has published a two-part series on how lifestyle choices affect brain 'fitness.' The first article is about how physical exercise actually increases the number of nerve cells, strengthens their connection, and can slow the progression of neurological disorders. From the article:
While evidence is soaring for exercise's brain benefits, physical fitness in the United States is plummeting. According to a report issued recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost one-fifth of people 18 and over exercise for less than 10 minutes a week. Only 46 percent of adults performed the recommended 30 minutes or more of brisk walking or other moderate exercise 5 days a week.
Whereas public health experts worry about the effects of a sedentary lifestyle on rates of heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems, (UCLA neurobiologist Fernando) Gómez-Pinilla is concerned that a lack of physical exercise could also foretell a wave of decreasing brain health for the United States.
'Locomotion played a very important role in evolution. Animals had to move to find food and run away from predators. Exercise had a direct action on brain regions related to cognition,' he says. 'Normally, when two functions evolve in this way, you can't separate them.' Link
The second article in the series surveys research on brain food, specifically how certain diets affect brain health. From the article:
(UCLA neuroscientist Greg M. Cole) says that both fish oil and curcumin may eventually become widely used in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, while causing few side effects. On the other hand, recently created drugs for treating neurodegenerative diseases are expensive and often have troubling side effects.
Cole notes that people have been eating fish and curries safely for centuries. 'We're interested in these approaches that "
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Al-Resalah Launched
Al-Resalah Launched: "RIYADH, 7 March 2006 — Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, officially launched yesterday an Islamic satellite channel to project Islam as a religion of moderation and tolerance"...
Asked if the channel would provide a platform for different schools of thought, he said that the main objective was to unify the ranks of the Islamic community, counter the negative perceptions of Islam and wean the youth away from the path of extremism. To this end, there would be an assortment of programs from prominent scholars.
Asked if the channel would provide a platform for different schools of thought, he said that the main objective was to unify the ranks of the Islamic community, counter the negative perceptions of Islam and wean the youth away from the path of extremism. To this end, there would be an assortment of programs from prominent scholars.
LiveScience.com - Surgeon General: Obesity Epidemic will Dwarf Terrorism Threat
LiveScience.com - Surgeon General: Obesity Epidemic will Dwarf Terrorism Threat: "
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ America's obesity epidemic will dwarf the threat of terrorism if the nation does not reduce the number of people who are severely overweight, the surgeon general said Wednesday."
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ America's obesity epidemic will dwarf the threat of terrorism if the nation does not reduce the number of people who are severely overweight, the surgeon general said Wednesday."
Gateway Pundit: Massive Muslim Protest in Bahrain Against Terrorism
Gateway Pundit: Massive Muslim Protest in Bahrain Against Terrorism: "'As tragic as the recent events in Iraq are, the silver lining is that it has brought to the fore the sectarian tensions in Bahrain and the need to resolve them before the situation gets out of hand. I hope that the civil and political societies make use of this momentum to achieve tangible and permanent changes.'"
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Essays: 'The mystery of development' by Robert Cooper | Prospect Magazine February 2006 issue 119
A must read for all interested in development...
Essays: 'The mystery of development' by Robert Cooper | Prospect Magazine February 2006 issue 119: "2005 was a big year for international development. But there are strict limits on what outsiders can do to help poor countries. People develop themselves with the help of functioning legal systems and states"
Essays: 'The mystery of development' by Robert Cooper | Prospect Magazine February 2006 issue 119: "2005 was a big year for international development. But there are strict limits on what outsiders can do to help poor countries. People develop themselves with the help of functioning legal systems and states"
Pat Martino's The Nature of the Guitar: An Intersection ofJazz Theory and Neo-Riemannian Theory
For all the Pat Martino fans, this http://mto.societymusictheory.org:16080/issues/mto.06.12.1/mto.06.12.1.capuzzo.pdf< is a very interesting paper published in the February edition of The Online Journal of the Society for Music Theory.
Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Video sent by alternativa
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Khaleej Times Online
Khaleej Times Online: "Umm Nuf said her father came to tell her that she was to marry. 'I was 14 at that time and he did not even bother to ask how I felt. I was happy as a child because I had nice clothes and lots of toys. When I got married, I found myself in a strange world. I did not know what to do and my mother never taught me anything,” she said. She now has four children and her husband wants to marry another wife because he thinks she is illiterate and that he needs an educated wife."
Cell Phone Users ‘Polluting’ the Air
Cell Phone Users ‘Polluting’ the Air: "“The process of sending outrageous pictures through mobile phones have become a dangerous threat to families’ stability and our youth’s morality,” Ali Hijri, another victim of the unsolicited material. “Unfortunately, we have now phone hackers who buy SAWA phone chips under no name and then misuse them to execute their wicked plans.”"
Friday, March 03, 2006
Reason: Why Poor Countries Are Poor: The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library. by Tim Harford
An economic analysis, with case examples, of the pervasive effect of corruption in the third world...I found it an interesting read...
Reason: Why Poor Countries Are Poor: The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library. by Tim Harford: "It is not news that corruption and perverse incentives matter. But perhaps it is news that the problem of twisted rules and institutions explains not just a little bit of the gap between Cameroon and rich countries but almost all of the gap. Countries like Cameroon fall far below their potential even considering their poor infrastructure, low investment, and minimal education. Worse, the web of corruption foils every effort to improve the infrastructure, attract investment, and raise educational standards.
We still don’t have a good word to describe what is missing in Cameroon and in poor countries across the world. But we are starting to understand what it is. Some people call it “social capital,” or maybe “trust.” Others call it “the rule of law,” or “institutions.” But these are just labels. The problem is that Cameroon, like other poor countries, is a topsy-turvy place where it’s in most people’s interest to take actions that directly or indirectly damage everyone else. The incentives to create wealth are turned on their heads like the roof of the school library."
Reason: Why Poor Countries Are Poor: The clues lie on a bumpy road leading to the world’s worst library. by Tim Harford: "It is not news that corruption and perverse incentives matter. But perhaps it is news that the problem of twisted rules and institutions explains not just a little bit of the gap between Cameroon and rich countries but almost all of the gap. Countries like Cameroon fall far below their potential even considering their poor infrastructure, low investment, and minimal education. Worse, the web of corruption foils every effort to improve the infrastructure, attract investment, and raise educational standards.
We still don’t have a good word to describe what is missing in Cameroon and in poor countries across the world. But we are starting to understand what it is. Some people call it “social capital,” or maybe “trust.” Others call it “the rule of law,” or “institutions.” But these are just labels. The problem is that Cameroon, like other poor countries, is a topsy-turvy place where it’s in most people’s interest to take actions that directly or indirectly damage everyone else. The incentives to create wealth are turned on their heads like the roof of the school library."
The Freshman - New York Times
This very interesting article chronicles the life of Rhamatullah, an Afghani male who was admitted to Yale's "special student" program via a connection with an independent film maker he met while the latter was doing a project in Afghanistan. Yale has defended their choice to admit Rhamatullah, as adding a unique element of diversity. However, Rhamatullah has been pilloried in the conservative press such as the Wall Street Journal, "Jihadi turns Bulldog" (http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110008020) (subscription required). He has rubbed some people the wrong way with his defense of the Taliban, specifically, his nonchalance regarding the blowing up of the archaeologically priceless,1500 year old Buddhas and his sexist attitudes toward women. To top things off he often expresses himself with an abrupt plainness common to the Arabic world, that can easily be interpreted as arrogance.
He reminds me of many of the Saudi males I met in Riyadh. They had a dogged self-confidence in their selves and their views, which are often concretely defined through the prism of Islam they have studied, since childhood.
As the NY Times says of Rahmtullah,"Five times a day he broke for prayer. He tried dutifully to comply with the precepts of Islam: respecting elders, honoring parents, speaking truthfully. "Religion was a part of your life," he said. "You never thought about it."
The Saudi males I know can be charming in their simplicity and religiosity, even as they brag, e.g., that their better educated wife still knows to walk 10 steps behind the husband in public. They have an Arabic machismo that they don't mind expressing. Like Rhamtullah, they truly value their family life, including their wife, children, and extended family. However, their concept of marriage and indivdual roles are completely different than ours. Their extended family connections are also different, though often stronger than what we have in the West. The culture is so different than ours that in my opinion it is really impossible for even a well-educated Westerner who is not personally, intimately familiar with Arabic Muslim culture to understand the nuances of family and gender relationships. There is no question that woman's rights are not anywhere close to where they should be compared to the West, yet like many households in any culture, women may have tremendous power within the family. This latter fact is rarely mentioned in the Western press.
Regarding the blowing up of the Bamiyan Buddhas, of course there is no excuse in this day and age for such actions. However, if the Talibans are of the belief that history really only has significance after the Prophet Mohammed, the importance of such historical shrines becomes negligible. In other words, their actions are consistent with their faith. I could easily see myself in conversation with a Saudi friend whose lines of thought would be consistent with the relative valuelessness of such shrines. Of course many Muslims do not subscribe to this absolutism and were shocked at the destruction of these Buddhist shrines.
So what about his admission to Yale? Though be belonged to a regime that most people, including many Afghanis found abhorrent, he himself, from what we know, committed no crime. From the article, one sees that their are many shades of grey in terms of his involvement with the Taliban, from his initial enthusiasm at the order they brought to Afghanistan to his later disillusionment with certain aspects, like the lack of concern with education for girls. So applying the label "Jihadi" or "Talibani" obscures much truth as labels often do.
Should his unique background gain him admission to Yale? Does his presence add diversity that is beneficial to the student body? In a sense the answer to the latter question is "Yes," However, I am sure that there are many others, including Americans, who have very interesting life experiences and who don't come from a morally ambiguous background that should be given the chance to compete for such "special student" spots. For example, go to kiva.org and read the story of Jennifer Flannery who started a very cool microfinance company for small business in the developing world....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rhamatullah quotes:
comment re The Freshman - New York Times: "'You have to be reasonable to live in America,' he said. 'Everything here is based on reason. Even the essays you write for class. Back home you have to talk about religion and culture, and you can win any argument if you bring up the Islamic argument. You can't reason against religion. But you cannot change Afghanistan overnight. You can't bring the Enlightenment overnight.'"
But sometimes his humor really backfired. At a speech for the Atlantic Council, Mr. Rahmatullah was confronted by a woman in the audience who lifted the burkha she was wearing and chastised him for the Taliban's infamous treatment of women. "You have imprisoned the women--it's a horror, let me tell you," she cried. Mr. Rahmatullah responded with a sneer: "I'm really sorry to your husband. He might have a very difficult time with you."
"In some ways," Mr. Rahmatullah told the New York Times. "I'm the luckiest person in the world. I could have ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Instead I ended up at Yale."
He reminds me of many of the Saudi males I met in Riyadh. They had a dogged self-confidence in their selves and their views, which are often concretely defined through the prism of Islam they have studied, since childhood.
As the NY Times says of Rahmtullah,"Five times a day he broke for prayer. He tried dutifully to comply with the precepts of Islam: respecting elders, honoring parents, speaking truthfully. "Religion was a part of your life," he said. "You never thought about it."
The Saudi males I know can be charming in their simplicity and religiosity, even as they brag, e.g., that their better educated wife still knows to walk 10 steps behind the husband in public. They have an Arabic machismo that they don't mind expressing. Like Rhamtullah, they truly value their family life, including their wife, children, and extended family. However, their concept of marriage and indivdual roles are completely different than ours. Their extended family connections are also different, though often stronger than what we have in the West. The culture is so different than ours that in my opinion it is really impossible for even a well-educated Westerner who is not personally, intimately familiar with Arabic Muslim culture to understand the nuances of family and gender relationships. There is no question that woman's rights are not anywhere close to where they should be compared to the West, yet like many households in any culture, women may have tremendous power within the family. This latter fact is rarely mentioned in the Western press.
Regarding the blowing up of the Bamiyan Buddhas, of course there is no excuse in this day and age for such actions. However, if the Talibans are of the belief that history really only has significance after the Prophet Mohammed, the importance of such historical shrines becomes negligible. In other words, their actions are consistent with their faith. I could easily see myself in conversation with a Saudi friend whose lines of thought would be consistent with the relative valuelessness of such shrines. Of course many Muslims do not subscribe to this absolutism and were shocked at the destruction of these Buddhist shrines.
So what about his admission to Yale? Though be belonged to a regime that most people, including many Afghanis found abhorrent, he himself, from what we know, committed no crime. From the article, one sees that their are many shades of grey in terms of his involvement with the Taliban, from his initial enthusiasm at the order they brought to Afghanistan to his later disillusionment with certain aspects, like the lack of concern with education for girls. So applying the label "Jihadi" or "Talibani" obscures much truth as labels often do.
Should his unique background gain him admission to Yale? Does his presence add diversity that is beneficial to the student body? In a sense the answer to the latter question is "Yes," However, I am sure that there are many others, including Americans, who have very interesting life experiences and who don't come from a morally ambiguous background that should be given the chance to compete for such "special student" spots. For example, go to kiva.org and read the story of Jennifer Flannery who started a very cool microfinance company for small business in the developing world....
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rhamatullah quotes:
comment re The Freshman - New York Times: "'You have to be reasonable to live in America,' he said. 'Everything here is based on reason. Even the essays you write for class. Back home you have to talk about religion and culture, and you can win any argument if you bring up the Islamic argument. You can't reason against religion. But you cannot change Afghanistan overnight. You can't bring the Enlightenment overnight.'"
But sometimes his humor really backfired. At a speech for the Atlantic Council, Mr. Rahmatullah was confronted by a woman in the audience who lifted the burkha she was wearing and chastised him for the Taliban's infamous treatment of women. "You have imprisoned the women--it's a horror, let me tell you," she cried. Mr. Rahmatullah responded with a sneer: "I'm really sorry to your husband. He might have a very difficult time with you."
"In some ways," Mr. Rahmatullah told the New York Times. "I'm the luckiest person in the world. I could have ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Instead I ended up at Yale."
Thursday, March 02, 2006
BBC NEWS | Technology | Online loans help world's poor
Two organizations referenced here, "Global Giving" and "Kiva." The history behind the startup of these two agencies makes for an interesting read, and demonstrate the power of individuals with a strong sense of determination to effect change for good...
BBC NEWS | Technology | Online loans help world's poor: "The internet is revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries, be they a farmer in Kenya who wants to invest in new cows or a seamstress in India who wants to open her own shop."
BBC NEWS | Technology | Online loans help world's poor: "The internet is revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries, be they a farmer in Kenya who wants to invest in new cows or a seamstress in India who wants to open her own shop."
Get RED!!!!
This seems to me to be an exciting, novel way of directing much needed money to a great cause (the Global Fund to provide medication for aids, malaria and tb). With the American Express red branded cared, 1% of your spending (up to 5000 pounds) is transferred every quarter to the Global Fund. If you exceed more than 5000 pounds in spending/year the rate of giving increases to 1.25% on all spent above the threshold.
A Note From Bobby Shriver: "It’s taken us two years to get here and finally (Product) RED has launched. We brought our Partners to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, we explained our idea (which some thought was impossible) and now I’d like to hear what you have to say.
But first, let me explain the genesis of this thing we call (RED):"...
So the question was: How do we engage big business in a way that is more than just charity? Could we get them to sell products that make money? Could we get them to direct some of that money to fighting AIDS in Africa? As a result, could we make it easier for people like you and me to ‘do something’ about the problem – sometimes without even knowing it?
Well, we came up with the idea of (RED), a brand that would create a sustainable flow of money to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa by tapping in to the world of commerce.
The concept is simple: buy (RED) and you get a product just as good as the competition while at the same time ensuring money gets to AIDS programmes in Africa. Not bad for a day of shopping!
A Note From Bobby Shriver: "It’s taken us two years to get here and finally (Product) RED has launched. We brought our Partners to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, we explained our idea (which some thought was impossible) and now I’d like to hear what you have to say.
But first, let me explain the genesis of this thing we call (RED):"...
So the question was: How do we engage big business in a way that is more than just charity? Could we get them to sell products that make money? Could we get them to direct some of that money to fighting AIDS in Africa? As a result, could we make it easier for people like you and me to ‘do something’ about the problem – sometimes without even knowing it?
Well, we came up with the idea of (RED), a brand that would create a sustainable flow of money to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa by tapping in to the world of commerce.
The concept is simple: buy (RED) and you get a product just as good as the competition while at the same time ensuring money gets to AIDS programmes in Africa. Not bad for a day of shopping!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Foreign Affairs - The Man Without a Plan - Amartya Sen
Foreign Affairs - The Man Without a Plan - Amartya Sen: "Summary: In The White Man's Burden, William Easterly offers important insights about the pitfalls of foreign aid. Unfortunately, his overblown attack on global 'do-gooders' obscures the real point: that aid can work, but only if done right."
Picower researcher explains how rats think - MIT News Office
Picower researcher explains how rats think - MIT News Office: "After running a maze, rats mentally replay their actions -- but backward, like a film played in reverse, a researcher at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT reports Feb. 12 in the advance online edition of Nature.
In 2001, Matthew A. Wilson, a professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, reported that animals have complex dreams and are able to retain and recall long sequences of events while asleep. Like people, rats go through multiple stages of sleep, from slow-wave sleep to REM sleep."
In 2001, Matthew A. Wilson, a professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, reported that animals have complex dreams and are able to retain and recall long sequences of events while asleep. Like people, rats go through multiple stages of sleep, from slow-wave sleep to REM sleep."
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3376&print=1
Conservatives will inherit the earth?
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3376&print=1: "Across the globe, people are choosing to have fewer children or none at all. Governments are desperate to halt the trend, but their influence seems to stop at the bedroom door. Are some societies destined to become extinct? Hardly. It’s more likely that conservatives will inherit the Earth. Like it or not, a growing proportion of the next generation will be born into families who believe that father knows best."
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3376&print=1: "Across the globe, people are choosing to have fewer children or none at all. Governments are desperate to halt the trend, but their influence seems to stop at the bedroom door. Are some societies destined to become extinct? Hardly. It’s more likely that conservatives will inherit the Earth. Like it or not, a growing proportion of the next generation will be born into families who believe that father knows best."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
