• Archive for October, 2009

    “The Uneducated American”

    by  • October 9, 2009 • politics & money

    In the New York Times, Paul Krugman brings up another reason we may fall behind as a power in the free world: increasingly deteriorating quality of public education. It is an excellent Op-Ed and points to Obama’s next big domestic challenge, whether or not anything gets done with health care.

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    Tax Break a state Treasury

    by  • October 9, 2009 • politics & money

    Shorter NC Governor: Tax Breaks didn’t work to keep business in NC, but tax breaks are the only thing that works to keep business in NC. Gov. Beverly Perdue says North Carolina has no choice but to keep offering incentives packages to attract out-of-state companies even with the closing of the Dell computer plant....

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    Yards Per Attempt > QB Passer Rating

    by  • October 9, 2009 • sports

    Passing Yards per Attempt is a great predictor of wins and losses. A trip to Las Vegas anyone? Passing yards per attempt differential has proven to be, by quite a bit, the strongest driver of game results. So far this year, 71% of teams that have had superior Y/A have won the game. And,...

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    “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” on the Daily Show

    by  • October 8, 2009 • technology

    Inexpensive tools such as small output windmills, micro-lending, basic education for women and girls, mosquito nets, lathes and zeer pots (pot in pot cooling systems) would greatly increase the quality of life for those who currently live in impoverished countries. Kamkwamba’s book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is on available for purchase from...

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    Dick Gephardt: Defender of “Corporate Citizenry”

    by  • October 7, 2009 • politics & money

    When many of these previously principled legislators get out of congress, they wrap themselves in the warm embraces of the “corporate citizenry” and shed the financial limits of their “values”. When Gephardt ran for president in 1988, his ads claimed he had “defeated the strongest lobbying effort in history,” and even in his waning...

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    Senator Webb on General McChrystal and the Chain of Command

    by  • October 7, 2009 • politics & money

    The Obama Administration, Secretary of Defense Gates, Adm. Jones and Gen. Petraeus cannot be pleased with the General who is in charge of the “war of necessity” kneecapping the executive branches policy deliberations from lecterns in London. Senator Jim Webb puts the situation into the simple context of following the chain of command. Eugene...

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    A Tribe Called…

    by  • October 7, 2009 • technology

    At TEDxUSC, David Logan talks about the five kinds of tribes that humans naturally form — in schools, workplaces, even the driver’s license bureau. By understanding our shared tribal tendencies, we can help lead each other to become better individuals.

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    Cafferty Comments on Delay’s Dancing

    by  • October 4, 2009 • politics & money

    Cafferty’s wish that Delay’s potential fellow inmates get to see this video if he is convicted and incarcerated reeks of that “just being put in prison isn’t punishment enough”. Putting aside my own dislike for Tom Delays politics, his allegedly (and likely) criminal political M.O. and his all around nutty appearances on Dancing with the Stars, there...

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    Coach Del Rio sacks QB Garrard’s radio show

    by  • October 3, 2009 • sports

    Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio just told his star QB David Garrard to nix his weekly radio show ASAP: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard thought hosting a weekly radio show would be a good idea. He was meeting fans, answering questions, giving away tickets and previewing the team’s upcoming game. When Del...

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    Cyclists, Do you wanna ride? Philly’s for you

    by  • October 3, 2009 • politics & money

    Philadelphia is number one for bicycle commuters: Among the nation’s ten largest cities, Philadelphia had the highest percentage of commuters who use a bike; higher than New York City, Chicago or Los Angeles. Philadelphia also tied for 10th among the country’s 60 largest cities and the second highest percentage among east coast cities (only...

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    Thrown Stones from Glass Houses?

    by  • October 3, 2009 • leisure

    Letterman, like any late night talk show host, had some zingers for Clinton: “Well, President Clinton has gotten himself a new dog. You know, I think it’s changing his life, kind of brightening him up. He’s teaching the dog to sit up, to beg, to roll-over, you know, just like he did with the...

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