Sunday, October 10, 2010

Forbes magazine list of powerful women


US First Lady Michelle Obama shot up 40 places on this year's Forbes magazine list of powerful women to claim the top spot, replacing German leader Angela Merkel, reported on October 7, 2010. Obama's new ranking ends Merkel's four-year reign at the top of the magazine's listing of the most influential women in the world.

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Friday, October 08, 2010

Tom Lehrer - The Masochism Tango

Helen and Margaret’s Pledge to America


 Here is my pledge to you Margaret.  I hope you like it.

I pledge that I will actually read the Constitution before pledging to uphold it.  And I pledge that if I am too stupid to understand its intent,  I won’t become a politician.

I pledge not to start two wars, give tax breaks to millionaires, ruin the economy and then get mad when someone shows me the bill.

I pledge not to be a hypocrite or a Tea Party Republican – whichever comes first.

I pledge to remember that religious freedoms apply to all religions including the lack of a religion.  And I pledge to remember that no matter how much I believe in my religion, I will remember that my neighbor believes in his religion just as much.  And finally, I pledge that if I believe in my religion too much I will keep it to myself.

I pledge to stop calling Sarah Palin a stupid bitch when she finally admits that she is too stupid to run this country.  At that point I will simply call her a bitch and let the stupid speak for itself.

I pledge that I won’t hate gay people in public and then sleep with them in private.

I pledge to accept the fact that John McCain really can’t pull his head out of his ass at this point.  It’s in too deep.

I pledge not to be shocked when Rick Sanchez announces his new show on Fox News.

I pledge to remember that there are 6 billion people in the world and only 300 million of them live in the United States .  And with 300 million Americans to choose from, we can’t do better than John Boehner?  Really?

And Margaret, my dear, I pledge that I will vote on November 2.  I meant it.  Really.

 Here is my pledge to you dear.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

That about sums it up, dear.  That and Endust is as good if not better than Pledge.

Thanks

William Meloney
---------------------------
Voice: 270-215-4275

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China: Nobel Peace Prize Winner - Liu Xiaobo

By Oiwan Lam

A few hours ago, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced its decision to award the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.

It is a moment of great joy for concerned Chinese citizens as Liu Xiaobo represents human rights activists' determination in struggling for the peaceful transformation of China's political system. He was arrested in June 2009 and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment under the charge of “inciting subversion of state power” afterCharter 08, a proposal for constitutional reform, was published.

The Jailed Nobel Peace Award Winners

However, the Chinese government, in response to the Nobel Committee's decision,claimed that [zh] Liu is a criminal who has been found guilty in a Chinese court and that the Committee's decision has violated the mission of the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Wow, the entire archive ...

Wow, the entire archive of The Realist is online.

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...in the Rain.

A short linguistic tripsichord to tantalize you indelicate sensibilities...

Rain

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him ……. A super calloused fragile … mystic hexed by halitosis.

Rain Chacon, March 5th, 1972–September 22nd, 2010. RIP.


I did not know her and I am less for it.

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Monday, September 27, 2010

New Imaging Technology

Python-panoram-584-1278600808


Excuse me, has any one seen my pet rat?

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the echo chamber resounds

Now, finally, the echo chamber resounds...

Iranian nuclear programme targeted by computer virus

Maryam Sinaiee, and Michael Theodoulou

  • Last Updated: September 27. 2010 12:32AM UAE / September 26. 2010 8:32PM GMT


TEHRAN // Iran revealed yesterday that a so-called computer worm – which experts say shows unprecedented ingenuity and is unique in its ability to seize control of industrial plants – has infected the personal computers of staff at its first nuclear power plant.


In the tech community and in the automation/manufacturing community we have been reading about this for weeks.  I wonder what aspect of it finally gave traction to the mainstream media to pay attention.  Could it be... nuclear programmes?  It is about flipping time.

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The Face Behind The Book

Ha ha ha ho ho ho...

Ok, this just in... Mark Zuckerberg is the perfect 'Bad Boy' front man to be running FB.  He may well have come up with the idea (or borrowed/stolen it like another 'Bad Boy' wonder, perhaps your remember him, Bill G.)  But my point remains... Mark Z is the perfect diversionary carnival barker.  He is the guy who creates all the noise - that is essential for any real business to survive and grow.  All the while cadres of very smart, quiet people are running the FB machine.

So, lets all love/hate the loud guy out front.  And please remember to pay your admission at the door for the greatest show on earth.

Step right up... 

 Step right up, step right up, step right up,
Everyone's a winner, bargains galore
That's right, you too can be the proud owner
Of the quality goes in before the name goes on
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar, we got service after sales
You need perfume? we got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring?
Something for the little lady, something for the little lady,
Something for the little lady, hmm

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Halloween comes early

Image courtesy Carlsontoons.com


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Friday, September 24, 2010

Poverty

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance in the United States: 2009

The data presented here are from the Current Population Survey (CPS), 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC), the source of official poverty estimates. The CPS ASEC is a sample survey of approximately 100,000 household nationwide. These data reflect conditions in calendar year 2009.

The official poverty rate in 2009 was 14.3 percent — up from 13.2 percent in 2008. This was the second statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004.
In 2009, 43.6 million people were in poverty, up from 39.8 million in 2008 — the third consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty.
Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic Whites (from 8.6 percent to 9.4 percent), for Blacks (from 24.7 percent to 25.8 percent), and for Hispanics (from 23.2 percent to 25.3 percent). For Asians, the 2009 poverty rate (12.5 percent) was not statistically different from the 2008 poverty rate.1
The poverty rate in 2009 (14.3 percent) was the highest poverty rate since 1994 but was 8.1 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available.
The number of people in poverty in 2009 (43.6 million) is the largest number in the 51 years for which poverty estimates have been published.
Between 2008 and 2009, the poverty rate increased for children under the age of 18 (from 19.0 percent to 20.7 percent) and people aged 18 to 64 (from 11.7 percent to 12.9 percent), but decreased for people aged 65 and older (from 9.7 percent to 8.9 percent). 2
Footnotes:

1 The poverty rate for Blacks was not statistically different from that of Hispanics.

2 Since unrelated individuals under 15 are excluded from the poverty universe, there are 460,000 fewer children in the poverty universe than in the total civilian noninstitutionalized population.

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Put the lime in the coconut...

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Slick and then some...


The Jefferson Airplane

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Outstanding...


Photograph: Bruce Davidson/NPL/Rex Features. Guardian UK

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. . .