I haven't tried these yet, would be interested to hear from any of you who give this a try. Could consume a good week or so. Amazing what's out there ... probably being data mined as I type!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Life | Money in a Hole - Ashes in the Sea | WSJ
Here's a couple of disconnected articles for you ... but you know by now that I just send out whatever I run across that I think is interesting or funny or useful.
I enjoyed the article about the world's largest hand-dug well in Kansas (I'm a Jayhawker so this is on on my gotta see list) ... hey, it's one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas! Same list that has the Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson. That's on my list, too. My Pop sold explosives to all the salt mining companies in Kansas and I remember having a chunk of crystal salt the size of a deck of cards that had preserved insects and plant pieces in it. Wish I still had it. Maybe I'll look for a souvenir salt chunk on our road trip this Fall.
Was really touched by the second article about "wildcat scattering" ... and that's not a cat herding term. It's about putting your loved one's ashes in places that have personal meaning. With or without the papers and permission (btw, Disney frowns if you're thinking that). Seems much more meaningful to me than a casket in a plot with a chunk of granite on top. Anyway, read the article and judge for yourself.
I enjoyed the article about the world's largest hand-dug well in Kansas (I'm a Jayhawker so this is on on my gotta see list) ... hey, it's one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas! Same list that has the Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson. That's on my list, too. My Pop sold explosives to all the salt mining companies in Kansas and I remember having a chunk of crystal salt the size of a deck of cards that had preserved insects and plant pieces in it. Wish I still had it. Maybe I'll look for a souvenir salt chunk on our road trip this Fall.
Was really touched by the second article about "wildcat scattering" ... and that's not a cat herding term. It's about putting your loved one's ashes in places that have personal meaning. With or without the papers and permission (btw, Disney frowns if you're thinking that). Seems much more meaningful to me than a casket in a plot with a chunk of granite on top. Anyway, read the article and judge for yourself.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Science | Known Universe | AMNH
Check out this video animation from the American Museum of Natural History. Thanks, Clifford, for the great link!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Life | Keeping Resolutions | WSJ
Some useful tips for success in keeping your new year resolutions. I like the step-wise approach. Losing 5 lbs by Feb is a lot easier to approach than losing 20 lbs by May.
Money | Snared by Medicare | WSJ
Comparable in complexity, perhaps, to Social Security rules are Medicare rules. Don't get tripped-up on them. Especially if you are going to work past 65 or stay on the health plan you are now on past 65. Check out this article for how to avoid Medicare traps.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
LA Then and Now
Evolution of downtown LA as seen from the LA City Hall
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-then-now-pictures-html,0,6274618.htmlstory
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-then-now-pictures-html,0,6274618.htmlstory
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Money | For Stocks, the Worst Decade Ever | WSJ.com
No surprise that the 'aughts were not a happy decade for stock portfolios. As decades go, it was really a flop as this article shows. Even the 1930's provided a slightly better performance ('tho still a loss) than the 'aughts. A key bottom line question is what should investors plan-for as return from stocks in the next decade? The past may not be much of a predictor. This article suggests 7% may be a better target.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Humor | Hollywood Squares |
These great questions and answers are from the days when ' Hollywood Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course..
Q.. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde (About fifteen minutes later): Loneliness! And the audience laughed for another 10 to 15 minutes.
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's married?
A.. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency..
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty..
Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.
Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the army.
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A Paul Lynde: Point and laugh
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Business | Cost Cutting Innovation | WSJ
You gotta find this guy interesting. Loves recessions. Talks pay toilets and standing-room-only slots on his planes. The transition of airlines from luxury service to transportation commodity is now becoming complete.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Math | Simpson's Paradox | WSJ
Is unemployment now higher or lower than in the early recession of the 1980's. Yes! No! Both! Check this article for the implications of data aggregation in statistical analysis. So, if you're looking for a clever way to dispute a statistical analysis you dislike, you can declare "Simpson's Paradox" and walk away! Or just follow the path of the screaming talk show hosts ... if the facts get in the way of your beliefs, change the facts!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Humor | Blogs | Wired
Full of turkey and dressing and need a diversion ... these will get you chuckling (or groaning).
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tech | Living with Data | Ted India
There's some amazing new thinking about tech here ... like it's stepping out of the monitor and onto your hand, floor, wall, paper ... you name it!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thanksgiving | Giving Thanks this Year | Noonan_WSJ
We all have something to be thankful for this year. Here is Peggy Noonan's veiwpoint.
Healthcare | The Henry Ford of Heart Surgery | WSJ
Politicians bicker. Bloggers rant. Talk radio pundits scream. Seniors protest. Uninsured agonize. While we all swirl but do little about getting the cost of healthcare down, here's an article about a success story. It will be a pity if we have to offshore healthcare in order to manage the costs. Everyone here loves their little piece of waste in the healthcare system ... be it insurers, lawyers, doctors, hospitals, pharma or patients.
Time | No Time to Read This? Read This | WSJ
Time management techniques reviewed here. I'm intrigued with David Allen's GTD but not sure I'm willing to invest the time (no pun intended). The Pomodoro Technique is intriguing ... may give that a try. For me, a written to-do list and careful management of e-mail makes a big difference. Also, just get it done, stop over-analyzing it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Money | Return To The Giant Pool of Money | NPR
A year ago this last September was the big crunch ... no one is sure if we're out of the slump, if we're in a jobless recovery or if we're headed for doom. Whatever the future holds, the past is a heckuva lot clear. Here's a radio show that will help you understand part of how we drove the bus off the cliff.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Money | Smarts Schmartz | NYT
Smart guys ... the downfall of Wall Street? Read on. Hmm, seems to reinforce an earlier article I read in Wired. We gotta get those guys from MIT, Stanford and Caltech back into the labs where they can merely blow-up the world, not crater the markets.
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