0
POPSThe Next Hit Coming for the Economy Full article has specific excellent examples. There are vast distortions in both valuations and wealth/income distribution which are extremely dangerous to the social contract! Further brief comment at http://singularitygov.blogspot.com
17
POPSDoes Economics Violate the Laws of Physics? Excellent article on how, among other things, economists treat energy as a commodity and ignore that it takes energy to produce the other commodities. This is what happens when our educational system gets taken over by people who devalue the subject of Science...not to mention common sense.
2
POPS Who says it's green to burn woodchips? Almuth Ernsting from Biofuelwatch said: "It's almost unbelievable that we're creating vast areas of monoculture, mile after mile, just to be cut down as fast as they grow, to be shipped thousands of miles to be burned just for people's electricity. It just doesn't make sense. What about all the habitat that gets destroyed along the way?" Arrrghhh!!!! Please pass on ... retweet ... whatever. Somewhere I line must be drawn. See how woodlands can support multiple livings, and how complex they really are... www.worldwidewood.wordpress.com.
4
POPSGary Taubes: The great diet delusion More: The institutionalised conviction that we get fat simply because we overeat is based on the kind of fallacious reasoning that would lead to a failing grade in a high-school logic class. The first law of thermodynamics tells us that energy is neither created nor destroyed, so the calories we consume must be either stored, expended or excreted. If we are getting fatter, we must be taking in more energy than we are giving out: we are overeating. But this does not tell us which direction the arrow of causality is pointing. Do we get fat because we overeat, or is some regulatory or hormonal phenomenon driving us to fatten and in turn causing us to overeat? Saying that obesity is explained by overeating and/or sedentary behaviour is like saying that chronic fatigue syndrome is explained by a lack of energy. It sounds obvious; it tells us nothing.
4
POPSBye Bye Birdie: Famed Fossil Loses Avian Perch just one of several species of feathered dinosaurs preceding modern birds. It may not even be a direct ancestor. Such revisions make paleontology a science of second thoughts. Reconstructing the history of life, researchers thrash out theories of ancestry, behavior and biomechanics guided by hints from ancient bones. Archaeopteryx -- combining the feathers, wishbone and wings of a bird with the reptilian tail, teeth and claws of a dinosaur -- had already become a question mark. Newly discovered fossils have prompted scientists to revamp their assumptions about archaeopteryx's distinguishing features over the last decade. A cornucopia of fossil finds in China demonstrated that feathers coated many dinosaur species, not just birds. The newest finding, though, demonstrates that our understanding of even well-studied fossils like archaeopteryx -- scrutinized, measured, modeled for 150 years -- can still be upended.
3
POPSAnd the Knives Come Out.....
READ THE 26-PAGE REPORTpdf. READ KAREN IGNAGNI’S 2-PAGE MEMO TO MEMBER PRESIDENTS AND CEOs. http://bit.ly/2QirZ. KEY GRAF: “Between 2010 and 2019 the cumulative increases in the cost of a typical family policy under this reform proposal will be approximately $20,700 more than it would be under the current system.” TNR’s Jonathan Cohn -- in “Is the Insurance Industry Declaring War?” -- sees “some pretty questionable assumptions.” Excerpts below. Cohn here. THE NARRATIVE -- L.A. Times A1 tease: “An about-face by insurers: After working with the White House to overhaul healthcare, the insurance industry now plans to fight the reform effort.” TALKRADIO ALERT -- USA Today A1 tease: “Benefits in health bill not immediate: Tax credits for insurance won’t start until 2013; tax hikes to pay for changes kick in right away.” THE WHITE HOUSE FEELS “MISLED” BY THE AHIP SALVO, reports POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown: “The report will drop ahead of a crucial vote on the bill . . .
0
POPSKen Eisold About the Book What You Don’t Know You Know is about this emergent understanding, and how it forces us to rethink our relationships with each other as well as our beliefs about what it means to be a person, to have a self. It is for all those who want a better understanding of the complexity of human motivation,
0
POPSAbout Author Kenneth Eisold Book A practicing psychoanalyst and organizational consultant, Ken Eisold plays a leading role in exploring the extensive and multifaceted unconscious dimensions of our lives.
17
POPSWeapons failed US troops during Afghan firefight
A week ago, eight U.S. troops were killed at a base near Kamdesh, a town near Wanat. There's no immediate evidence of weapons failures at Kamdesh, but the circumstances were eerily similar to the Wanat battle: insurgents stormed an isolated stronghold manned by American forces stretched thin by the demands of war. Army Col. Wayne Shanks, a military spokesman in Afghanistan, said a review of the battle at Kamdesh is under way. "It is too early to make any assumptions regarding what did or didn't work correctly," he said. Complaints about the weapons the troops carry, especially the M4, aren't new. Army officials say that when properly cleaned and maintained, the M4 is a quality weapon that can pump out more than 3,000 rounds before any failures occur. The M4 is a shorter, lighter version of the M16, which made its debut during the Vietnam war. Roughly 500,000 M4s are in service, making it the rifle troops on the front lines trust with their lives.
2
POPSSearching For Consensus on Afghanistan share the same strategic interests and that the return to power of the Taliban would automatically mean a new sanctuary for al-Qaeda. Is that a myth? Here is Barack Obama on March 27, 2009, announcing his first new strategy for Afghanistan: "And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban - or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged - that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can." He added: The return in force of al Qaeda terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence. Later in the Post article, the reporters quote a "senior Obama official" comparing Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Eight months ago, if you had asked people which was worse, everybody would have said Pakistan is worse and Afghanistan is in good shape." Afghanistan was in good shape? 2008 was the deadliest year for American troops there. Nobody paying any attention
4
POPSEnergy Crisis Postponed: New Gas Rescues The World Tony Hayward, BP's chief executive, said proven natural gas reserves around the world have risen to 1.2 trillion barrels of oil equivalent, enough for 60 years' supply " and rising fast. "There has been a revolution in the gas fields of North America. Reserve estimates are rising sharply as technology unlocks unconventional resources," he said. "The common wisdom was that unconventional gas was too difficult, too expensive and too demanding," he said, according to Petroleum Economist. "This has changed. If we ever doubted that gas was the fuel of the future " in many ways there's the answer." The breakthrough has been to combine 3-D seismic imaging with new technologies to free "tight gas" by smashing rocks, known as hydro-fracturing or "fracking" in the trade. The US is leading the charge. Operations in Pennsylvania and Texas have already been sufficient to cut US imports of liquefied natural gas (LGN) from Trinidad and Qatar to almost nil,
5
POPSEnergy crisis is postponed as new gas rescues the world
"The common wisdom was that unconventional gas was too difficult, too expensive and too demanding," he said, according to Petroleum Economist. "This has changed. If we ever doubted that gas was the fuel of the future – in many ways there's the answer." The breakthrough has been to combine 3-D seismic imaging with new technologies to free "tight gas" by smashing rocks, known as hydro-fracturing or "fracking" in the trade. The US is leading the charge. Operations in Pennsylvania and Texas have already been sufficient to cut US imports of liquefied natural gas (LGN) from Trinidad and Qatar to almost nil, with knock-on effects for the global gas market – and crude oil. It is one reason why spot prices for some LNG deliveries have dropped to 50pc of pipeline contracts. We may soon be looking at an era when gas, wind and solar power, combined with a smarter grid and a switch to electric cars returns the country to near energy self-sufficiency.
4
POPSThe Democrat’s War on Oncologists and Cardiologists cardiology and 19% on radiation oncology. They’re targets only because of cost: Two-thirds of morbidity or mortality among Medicare patients owes to cancer or heart disease. … Cancer doctors get hit because the Administration believes specialists order too many MRIs and CT scans. Certain kinds of diagnostic imaging lose 24% under new assumptions that machines are in use 90% of the time, up from 50%. There isn’t a radiologist in America running an MRI 10.8 hours out of 12, unless he’s lining up patients on a conveyor belt. But claiming scanners are used far more often than they really are lets the Administration “score” spending cuts. It’s like doling out healthcare by mimicking progressive income taxation; tax the haves into oblivion so eventually all can go without. And this change is applied to all expensive equipment, not just MRIs and CTs, so payments for antitumor radiation therapy will fall by up to 44%.
1
POPSGlobal Warming Legislation Effect on States The preceding is a list of the 50 state-by-state breakouts of the impact the bill would have on jobs and the economy. Lieberman-Warner (S.2191) relies heavily on an unproven technology, capturing carbon and sequestering it. Even with the most generous assumptions " presuming that carbon capture and sequestration is commercially developed in 10 years " the economic costs for the average American are staggering. Under a more realistic scenario, the economic impacts in terms of losses in the job market, losses in household budgets, and higher energy prices will be drastically higher. To make matters worse, there will be inconsequential effects on the environment to show for it, if any. The Senate's leading climate-change bill, while aiming to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide in the air, actually poses "extraordinary perils" for Americans and the economy, according to a new study from The Heritage Foundation.
10
POPSI am me, all day every day More: It doesn't take away my freedom - curbs do that, building steps do that. I cannot blame my disability for the actions of others. There are some who treat me vastly differently, true. But I never stopped being me, they stopped being them. I refuse to take responsibility for anothers decision.
1
POPSHigh court says California can't raid transit funds More: In their latest budget action, the governor and the Legislature approved a plan in July to close a $24 billion deficit, in part by siphoning $138 million from the public transit account to the Department of Developmental Services to pay for transporting developmentally disabled persons to regional centers. The July plan also counted on taking $254 million from public transit to repay transportation bond debt payments. In addition, the plan counted on shifting $622 million in transit funds to the general fund to pay for the previous year's debt service. The refusal of the Supreme Court to hear the appeal could push California's precariously balanced budget immediately into the red. Before losing this lawsuit, the state was already $200 million short.
9
POPSAnd Jesus Laughed "A minister woke up on a beautiful Sunday morning and decided to squeeze in a round of golf before services. St. Peter observed the man headed for the golf course and gave God a nudge. ‘He should be punished for this." God said, "OK, just watch." The minister proceeded to play the best golf of his life. His club selection was precise, and he hit every shot perfectly He was shooting par for the first time. "I thought you were going to punish him," said St. Peter. "Just watch," said God. The minister continued to play flawless golf and on the 18th hole he shot a hole-in-one. "What kind of punishment is this complained St. Peter." "Just think about it," said God. "Whom can he tell?"
0
POPSThe True Laffer Curve? This is not a plea to raise taxes to those levels. No one wants to pay taxes that high, but it helps point out the fallacy to one of the tax cut arguments so that when there is a debate, we can all stick to the facts. Fat chance that will happen. Posted in September 17th, 2009 by Glenn Church
4
POPSRA in Moscow Times:Clan Politics of Russia, Venezuela, and Iran the leaders of these three countries regularly employ the powers of the state in support of clan-controlled businesses, especially in the energy and arms sectors. When Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin travels to Venezuela (he visits Caracas with extraordinary frequency), there is little to no separation between his diplomatic duties and personal financial interests in inking deals between Rosneft and PDVSA. When the Iranians travel to Caracas, they are given a red carpet welcome to jointly operated factories and the assistance of elaborate money-laundering networks. Chavez's family and close-knit clan of loyal military officers have become multibillionaires under his rule. Known as the boligarchs, they benefit directly from the alliance of Russia and Iran since it lends much-needed credibility and legitimacy to their plunder of the country.
1
POPSLeft-Brain Creativitiy Tactics Ever had to face a room full of left-brained types? Married to an engineer? Trying to get your artsy-fartsy ideas across to logical, analytical people? Take it from me...it can be frightening. Try these 10 ways to help left-brainers tap into the best of their creativity. Tell me how it goes...tweet us at http://www.twitter.com/thirstyfishinfo
0
POPSRe-Think Your Paradigms! For example... Corporations as Legal Individuals? Is this a law of nature? How about the nature of banking and currencies? Is this also fixed in nature for all time and all conditions? Or does system design matter? http://CulturalEngineer.blogspot.com http://www.Chagora.com
18
POPSNew Exoplanet Shouldn't Exist The discovery of a new planet, WASP-18b, wh challenges assumptions about tidal interactions--it's too close and orbiting too fast not to have collided with its star.
4
Pops
Newest Clips
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Print
Save
Turn on live update