An article by David Borowitz in The Huffington Post refers to CIA reports that Bin Laden is being followed on Twitter. When is this villain ever going to get caught? Now if only Twitter could somehow track him down. You wouldn't think it would be that hard.
In what some are calling a breakthrough in the hunt for the world's most wanted man, the Central Intelligence Agency revealed today that it is following Osama bin Laden on Twitter....
"We thought we were detecting an increase in chatter from Osama bin Laden," CIA chief Leon Panetta told reporters today. "What it turned out to be was an increase in tweets."...
The spy chief said that Mr. bin Laden's Twitter usage seems to peak between the hours of 8 and 9 PM on Mondays.
Twitter creators should be proud of their newest creation. If it helps locate him, what a "killer app" that would be. If only Twitter could be combined with a GPS. There's money to be made catching him. This time it's the government that needs bailing out. Can you help?
BorowitzReport article
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
My Facebook Mistake
Perhaps it is just as well that Facebook is taking a look at its own website and rules. I usually am careful about where I email and what I do online, having used computers for a long time.
Yesterday afternoon, I was adding my blog names to my Facebook page and clicked a button by mistake that sent mail to everyone on my address list asking if they want to be my Facebook friend. That list looks like it has about 300 addresses on it as it hadn't been cleaned up in some time.
That list includes addresses having to do with building our new swimming pool, having our gasoline tank remediated, our new septic system installed and more than a few lawyers and teachers, sales and information specialists, all ages of friends. Everyone got my email!
All of this happened because of one click that I didn't even notice until I started getting suspicious emails and went back to the Facebook site to check.
Anyway, as soon as I noticed this I deleted half the addresses and sent an apology to the other half. Of course, I should have sent the apology to everyone before I deleted the addresses, thus compounding the misery for everyone. So, I guess I should apologize again for making a mistake on top of a mistake.
One good outcome is that now I'm hearing from people I haven't heard from for years. I can tell whether their emails are current and find out what's going on with them, and I am getting a flood of emails.
Many of the photos I am seeing on Facebook friend sites are very funny (like my electrician and his buddies - who knew?). But some names on my email list made me positively squirm and some are never going to be updated. I am just hoping no one says that they don't want to be a Facebook friend or any other kind of friend to me.
Definitely, I would advise you to be very careful what you do on Facebook. Those photos, the keys to press, and what you say are less controllable than most websites at this time. On Facebook, your past can come back quickly as a shock!
Yesterday afternoon, I was adding my blog names to my Facebook page and clicked a button by mistake that sent mail to everyone on my address list asking if they want to be my Facebook friend. That list looks like it has about 300 addresses on it as it hadn't been cleaned up in some time.
That list includes addresses having to do with building our new swimming pool, having our gasoline tank remediated, our new septic system installed and more than a few lawyers and teachers, sales and information specialists, all ages of friends. Everyone got my email!
All of this happened because of one click that I didn't even notice until I started getting suspicious emails and went back to the Facebook site to check.
Anyway, as soon as I noticed this I deleted half the addresses and sent an apology to the other half. Of course, I should have sent the apology to everyone before I deleted the addresses, thus compounding the misery for everyone. So, I guess I should apologize again for making a mistake on top of a mistake.
One good outcome is that now I'm hearing from people I haven't heard from for years. I can tell whether their emails are current and find out what's going on with them, and I am getting a flood of emails.
Many of the photos I am seeing on Facebook friend sites are very funny (like my electrician and his buddies - who knew?). But some names on my email list made me positively squirm and some are never going to be updated. I am just hoping no one says that they don't want to be a Facebook friend or any other kind of friend to me.
Definitely, I would advise you to be very careful what you do on Facebook. Those photos, the keys to press, and what you say are less controllable than most websites at this time. On Facebook, your past can come back quickly as a shock!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Home Sweet Home
The World Economic Forum in October ranked Canada’s financial system the soundest in the world. I've already mentioned this in my entry here.
President Obama visited Canada recently in his first foreign visit, and extolled the virtues of the banking system. This article from Bloomberg News says,
Before President Obama made Ottawa his first visit to a foreign capital earlier this month, he couldn’t resist telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.: “In the midst of the enormous economic crisis, I think Canada has shown itself to be a pretty good manager of the financial system and the economy in ways that we haven’t always been.”
Canadian regulators resisted pushes from some bank executives to loosen lending restrictions when the economy was booming, says David Dodge, 65, who stepped down as Bank of Canada governor a year ago...“The banks at the top of the cycle thought we were being too tight-assed,” Dodge said in a telephone interview.
Canadians were able to have 40-year mortgages until last year when they started to gain popularity among homebuyers seeking to reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
Another restraining factor is that Canadians, unlike their U.S. neighbors, can’t take mortgage interest as a tax deduction, removing an “inherent bias” to take on too much debt, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in September.
In Canada, mortgage debt was not viewed "good debt" as the American media has led Americans to believe. For most Americans, the way to become rich and increase personal financial assets has been to take on more debt, especially if borrowed debt can be reinvested for higher returns. But many Americans are now losing their homes or in danger of it as they choke on debts, the high costs of healthcare and the high tax rate.
President Obama visited Canada recently in his first foreign visit, and extolled the virtues of the banking system. This article from Bloomberg News says,
Before President Obama made Ottawa his first visit to a foreign capital earlier this month, he couldn’t resist telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.: “In the midst of the enormous economic crisis, I think Canada has shown itself to be a pretty good manager of the financial system and the economy in ways that we haven’t always been.”
Canadian regulators resisted pushes from some bank executives to loosen lending restrictions when the economy was booming, says David Dodge, 65, who stepped down as Bank of Canada governor a year ago...“The banks at the top of the cycle thought we were being too tight-assed,” Dodge said in a telephone interview.
Canadians were able to have 40-year mortgages until last year when they started to gain popularity among homebuyers seeking to reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
Another restraining factor is that Canadians, unlike their U.S. neighbors, can’t take mortgage interest as a tax deduction, removing an “inherent bias” to take on too much debt, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in September.
In Canada, mortgage debt was not viewed "good debt" as the American media has led Americans to believe. For most Americans, the way to become rich and increase personal financial assets has been to take on more debt, especially if borrowed debt can be reinvested for higher returns. But many Americans are now losing their homes or in danger of it as they choke on debts, the high costs of healthcare and the high tax rate.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
While I am not the most political person, I have been conscious of beef quality since living in England years ago when mad cow disease was a real concern. This article in today's New York Times mentions that Wagyu beef was eaten at the Governor's Dinner, a major formal event that was held at the same time as the Academy Awards, last Sunday evening. Isn't Wagyu beef the kind that Rachael Ray was given trouble about? Isn't it a Japanese beef? Why, oh why, when America is full of cows does it have to import beef from another country and pay top dollar for a meat that is coming out of my taxes. Think about it, here we have paid millions of dollars in federal tax dollars, and aren't citizens because I might not pass the test, and my tax dollars are feeding governors with foreign Japanese beef? The government calls excess "pork", but I am calling it " Wagyu beef".
Monday, February 23, 2009
2009 Academy Awards Slideshow
Here's a really hot slideshow of the 81st Academy Awards February 22, 2009. Enjoy! Don't they all look perfect?
Courtesy slideshare.net
Courtesy slideshare.net
Sunday, February 22, 2009
On The Academy Awards
The Academy Awards are over, and it was great, as usual. Some movies I liked during the year were totally ignored, and others I didn't have any desire to see won prizes. But the movie stars look so perfect and their clothes are so beautiful, and their speeches are so effusive. It's all a wonderful diversion.
Sean Penn
The prizes are probably more political than popular, if today's award for Best Actor is any indication. From what I can see, "Milk" broke even, if its costs were U.S.$20mil, and it made $28mil in the U.S. and $30mil. worldwide according to this data. While the camera focused on gay flick lead actor Sean Penn, the teenage heart-throb Robert Pattinson,
Robert Pattinson
known as Edward in "Twilight" was sitting behind him, with his usual smoldering good looks. Pattinson didn't win any prizes or get any recognition or attention. But that movie is a ginormous, runaway success boasting U.S.$187mil. in U.S. and Canadian sales and U.S.$356mil. worldwide box office totals. Can't wait for more, with others expected in the series.
The side shows today were entertaining, with host Hugh Jackman dancing with Beyonce and so on. My only problem with the Academy Awards is that so many deserving, financially successful and popular movies get so little attention. I think that spreading out the awards helps more individuals.
"Slumdog Millionaire" got a huge boost, with lots of the prizes for sound-mixing, original song, original score, film editing, cinematography, adapted screenplay, best director and best picture. An interesting triumph of the passionate visions of producer and director, perhaps it's got just enough English to count as mainstream.
Academy Awards are originally American prizes, and there are "foreign language movie" Academy prizes. One of my favorite movies "The Duchess" won for costume design, and perhaps it could have won for "most emotion-heavy" movie of the year, if that had been prized. The so-called chick-flick movies, like the teenage movies, don't get big prizes at the Academy.
Aren't most Americans looking at the awards feeling uninspired and a let-down of pride? Do you think the Academy Awards properly awards prizes for movies? Do you think criteria for winning should be clearly differentiated and stated?
Sean Penn
The prizes are probably more political than popular, if today's award for Best Actor is any indication. From what I can see, "Milk" broke even, if its costs were U.S.$20mil, and it made $28mil in the U.S. and $30mil. worldwide according to this data. While the camera focused on gay flick lead actor Sean Penn, the teenage heart-throb Robert Pattinson,
Robert Pattinson
known as Edward in "Twilight" was sitting behind him, with his usual smoldering good looks. Pattinson didn't win any prizes or get any recognition or attention. But that movie is a ginormous, runaway success boasting U.S.$187mil. in U.S. and Canadian sales and U.S.$356mil. worldwide box office totals. Can't wait for more, with others expected in the series.
The side shows today were entertaining, with host Hugh Jackman dancing with Beyonce and so on. My only problem with the Academy Awards is that so many deserving, financially successful and popular movies get so little attention. I think that spreading out the awards helps more individuals.
"Slumdog Millionaire" got a huge boost, with lots of the prizes for sound-mixing, original song, original score, film editing, cinematography, adapted screenplay, best director and best picture. An interesting triumph of the passionate visions of producer and director, perhaps it's got just enough English to count as mainstream.
Academy Awards are originally American prizes, and there are "foreign language movie" Academy prizes. One of my favorite movies "The Duchess" won for costume design, and perhaps it could have won for "most emotion-heavy" movie of the year, if that had been prized. The so-called chick-flick movies, like the teenage movies, don't get big prizes at the Academy.
Aren't most Americans looking at the awards feeling uninspired and a let-down of pride? Do you think the Academy Awards properly awards prizes for movies? Do you think criteria for winning should be clearly differentiated and stated?
We Are None of Us Able To Be What We Have It In Us To Be
Edward Upward
There is an interesting article in The Princeton Packet here about neuroscientist Sam Wang, associate professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton University, who gave a lecture with various fascinating insights about human relationships:
"Our brains have the job of helping us survive in the world and fight another day,” he said.
On a common brain myth:"Dale Carnegie, the self-improvement pioneer, [made the] assertion that we use only 10 percent of our brain, which he ascribed to Mr.[Henry] James. Mr. Wang said...The truth is “you need every bit of your brain,”... “If you have a stroke you will find out, sometimes the hard way, that you use every bit of your brain,” he said.
Many of the things adults do to keep their brains sharp, including Sudoku and crossword puzzles, help your brain get better at those specific tasks but don’t have much if any broader benefit, Mr. Wang said. Instead, “physical exercise is one of the best things you can do,” to benefit your brain, he said....”There is a rule of thumb that things that are good for your heart are good for your brain,” Mr. Wang said.
... Although men and women are equally good at reading their own moods — whether they are in a good or bad mood — “everybody is better at reading women’s moods,” based on whatever signals women send out, Mr. Wang said.
“Eight hours of study is more effective spread out over two or three sessions than over one session.” And a good night’s sleep before the exam does help you better process all that studied information, he said.
...weighing in on the “nature versus nurture” question. It has been demonstrated that increases in IQ across populations do occur at a more rapid clip than evolution would allow for, he said, so nurture is important."
More information about puzzles of everyday life is here on one of his websites.
Sudoku is still fun, in my view, if you play an easy enough game to finish, and the more that it's played, the easier it is.
There is an interesting article in The Princeton Packet here about neuroscientist Sam Wang, associate professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton University, who gave a lecture with various fascinating insights about human relationships:
"Our brains have the job of helping us survive in the world and fight another day,” he said.
On a common brain myth:"Dale Carnegie, the self-improvement pioneer, [made the] assertion that we use only 10 percent of our brain, which he ascribed to Mr.[Henry] James. Mr. Wang said...The truth is “you need every bit of your brain,”... “If you have a stroke you will find out, sometimes the hard way, that you use every bit of your brain,” he said.
Many of the things adults do to keep their brains sharp, including Sudoku and crossword puzzles, help your brain get better at those specific tasks but don’t have much if any broader benefit, Mr. Wang said. Instead, “physical exercise is one of the best things you can do,” to benefit your brain, he said....”There is a rule of thumb that things that are good for your heart are good for your brain,” Mr. Wang said.
... Although men and women are equally good at reading their own moods — whether they are in a good or bad mood — “everybody is better at reading women’s moods,” based on whatever signals women send out, Mr. Wang said.
“Eight hours of study is more effective spread out over two or three sessions than over one session.” And a good night’s sleep before the exam does help you better process all that studied information, he said.
...weighing in on the “nature versus nurture” question. It has been demonstrated that increases in IQ across populations do occur at a more rapid clip than evolution would allow for, he said, so nurture is important."
More information about puzzles of everyday life is here on one of his websites.
Sudoku is still fun, in my view, if you play an easy enough game to finish, and the more that it's played, the easier it is.
So Much Beauty, So Little Time
Buzzsugar
This is a cute Q&A from The New York Times here, and it reminds me of "He's Just Not That Into You" a movie I saw yesterday - a very entertaining movie with an all-star cast, by the way. It's definitely a movie worth seeing and this sort of sums it up:
The Busy Signal
Q:What’s the appropriate response to “You never call”?
A:"The last time I checked, telephones worked in both directions, just like guilt trips.
So take your mother or your friend or — scratch that, we all know it’s your mother, right? — gently by the hand and say: “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
Then promise each other to be in closer touch...or make a date, right then and there."
Friday, February 20, 2009
Confirmed: Madoff Made Off With Billions
Bernard Madoff enters federal court Jan. 14 in New York City
Every one who made money from Madoff investments took it from a new investor. According to The New York Times, those who took out more than they put in “have to recognize that they got someone else’s money,” said David J. Sheehan, a lawyer working with the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
Irving Picard, a trustee at the SIPC, is working hard to recover money for investors. He said today "the disgraced financier did not buy any securities for his clients in at least the last 13 years."
Irving Picard
“We have no evidence to indicate securities were purchased for customer accounts,” the trustee, Irving H. Picard, said at the first gathering of Mr. Madoff’s clients and other creditors at the federal bankruptcy courthouse in Lower Manhattan."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Picard "has said he will sue investors to retrieve profits they earned, particularly if they took their money out because they were suspicious".
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Guard Dogs in Demand
Flipping through the pages of the February, 2009 Robb Report I noticed an unusually large number of ads for guard dogs, mostly German Shepherds. Several of the dog ads were of dogs pictured with children, so cute. But also, a bit sinister, when you think about it. Why now? The American economic downturn is so severe that wealthy clients are likely to need guard dogs, maybe more guard dogs?
Today news came of another possible Ponzi scheme, from the Stanford Financial Group (no relation to the university) of approximately $U.S. 8 billion. The Wall Street Journal says "The SEC filed civil charges against R. Allen Stanford, alleging he orchestrated a scheme centering on an $8 billion CD program. Federal agents raided Stanford's headquarters" in Houston.
Now more than ever, I suppose those who have money want to keep it and keep themselves safe. Alas, it's likely too late for those who invested with Madoff and Stanford. If only those on guard at the SEC had protected investors from those crooks. At least the SEC acted on recent Stanford Financial complaints.
But where were those on guard at the SEC when collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) were created from a mix of subprime loans, corporate loans, and commercial and residential real estate? If CDOs hadn't been created, it is conjectured that the financial bubble that has burst and exploded so disastrously might not have happened. Many have now lost life savings, and may face unemployment and foreclosures...It's probably the worst, most serious financial disaster this country has ever seen.
We all could have used better protection and regulation.
Monday, February 16, 2009
"Dealer's Warranty"
Evil diabolical criminals aren't necessarily foreign. They can be homegrown, as the Oklahoma City bombing and other acts of violence prove.
Fortunately, my problem isn't that bad. When I extended a lease on my Mercedes to a fifth year because I was too busy to lease another one, I also wished to extend the warranty. It just happened that I got a postcard in the mail around that time a year-and-a-half ago, and assumed it was from the Mercedes dealer, because the card mentioned Mercedes.
Anyway, I called up "Dealer's Warranty" and had a short conversation and obtained a service warranty on my car. Or so I thought. The money certainly went out of my credit card each month.
But when I changed vehicles a year later, I was supposed to stop the service warranty. I forgot to do so for two months and noticed the payments were still coming out of the credit card bill. So I called up the credit card company and asked them to stop payment, but they said I would have to fill out paperwork (ugh!) and only then might they help me.
So I called all to various numbers at "Dealer's Warranty" and calls to them are supposedly recorded. But when I said that I might put this trouble in my blog, they said they wouldn't talk to me, until I relented.
Grudgingly, I did my part. I got details of the paperwork to fill out with four necessary nuggets of information, including notarized certificate of mileage when the car was returned to the dealer.
Since then, I have received various phone calls from "Dealer's Warranty" threatening to close the coverage, which is what I wanted. But the worst was today when the individual told me that my credit would be ruined if I didn't make another payment. He also said he would only talk to you-know-who, a female. He insisted that I had covered another make of vehicle than the one I have. Also, with raised voice, he insisted that the VIN number we sent on the certificate was incorrect (right!). That's what he said in a short phone call: "That's it, Lady, you're credit's ruined".
I hightailed it to the Mercedes dealer, who disavowed any connection with this warranty company. The dealership says they do not give out names, but the Department of Motor Vehicles does, to warranty dealers who want to advertise. They recommend hanging up on all future calls from "Dealer's Warranty" and others who claim to be subsidiaries. They said the warranty is likely useless, and I don't know as I didn't ever file a claim during that year the services on my vehicles were supposedly covered. They also suggested emailing the Better Business Bureau.
Future posts will say whether I have any more trouble from this company. Meanwhile, stay away from those bastards at "Dealer's Warranty". They are calling now with untraceable numbers and harassing me at all hours. They don't sound at all foreign or have foreign names, and they are calling me from lots of different states.
I want to leave sort of a trail, if not on paper, then online. This company shouldn't be allowed to get away with using threatening, aggressive language and intimidating business practices. Also, I don't want anyone else to get threats of ruined credit, either. If it's not an empty threat, here is my side of the story.
Fortunately, my problem isn't that bad. When I extended a lease on my Mercedes to a fifth year because I was too busy to lease another one, I also wished to extend the warranty. It just happened that I got a postcard in the mail around that time a year-and-a-half ago, and assumed it was from the Mercedes dealer, because the card mentioned Mercedes.
Anyway, I called up "Dealer's Warranty" and had a short conversation and obtained a service warranty on my car. Or so I thought. The money certainly went out of my credit card each month.
But when I changed vehicles a year later, I was supposed to stop the service warranty. I forgot to do so for two months and noticed the payments were still coming out of the credit card bill. So I called up the credit card company and asked them to stop payment, but they said I would have to fill out paperwork (ugh!) and only then might they help me.
So I called all to various numbers at "Dealer's Warranty" and calls to them are supposedly recorded. But when I said that I might put this trouble in my blog, they said they wouldn't talk to me, until I relented.
Grudgingly, I did my part. I got details of the paperwork to fill out with four necessary nuggets of information, including notarized certificate of mileage when the car was returned to the dealer.
Since then, I have received various phone calls from "Dealer's Warranty" threatening to close the coverage, which is what I wanted. But the worst was today when the individual told me that my credit would be ruined if I didn't make another payment. He also said he would only talk to you-know-who, a female. He insisted that I had covered another make of vehicle than the one I have. Also, with raised voice, he insisted that the VIN number we sent on the certificate was incorrect (right!). That's what he said in a short phone call: "That's it, Lady, you're credit's ruined".
I hightailed it to the Mercedes dealer, who disavowed any connection with this warranty company. The dealership says they do not give out names, but the Department of Motor Vehicles does, to warranty dealers who want to advertise. They recommend hanging up on all future calls from "Dealer's Warranty" and others who claim to be subsidiaries. They said the warranty is likely useless, and I don't know as I didn't ever file a claim during that year the services on my vehicles were supposedly covered. They also suggested emailing the Better Business Bureau.
Future posts will say whether I have any more trouble from this company. Meanwhile, stay away from those bastards at "Dealer's Warranty". They are calling now with untraceable numbers and harassing me at all hours. They don't sound at all foreign or have foreign names, and they are calling me from lots of different states.
I want to leave sort of a trail, if not on paper, then online. This company shouldn't be allowed to get away with using threatening, aggressive language and intimidating business practices. Also, I don't want anyone else to get threats of ruined credit, either. If it's not an empty threat, here is my side of the story.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
More on Alaska's Flawed Hunting Policy
The governor of Alaska doesn't get it when she says that 'anti-hunters' are bothering her as are the 'planned parenthood' group. Many people responded to a virus with thank you letters to Sarah Palin and donations to planned parenthood. She is on CNN here combining the two and calling my stance 'anti-hunting' (which it is not but rather against animal bounty-hunting). She calls it "political theater".
Ashley Judd
But Ashley Judd's stance, which I supported when I wrote in a previous entry here, opposes her. Biologists and wildlife experts are also against the governor's animal bounty-hunting policy, as this recent letter signed by 172 scientists proves.
The video comment by the governor is another example of her flawed thinking and rebuke of sound professional advice and education. Her zero-tolerance stance on planned parenthood sounds flawed as well. But a good outcome is that planned parenthood raised nearly one million dollars (U.S.) from the flap, and the governor got more free (negative) publicity.
Ashley Judd
But Ashley Judd's stance, which I supported when I wrote in a previous entry here, opposes her. Biologists and wildlife experts are also against the governor's animal bounty-hunting policy, as this recent letter signed by 172 scientists proves.
The video comment by the governor is another example of her flawed thinking and rebuke of sound professional advice and education. Her zero-tolerance stance on planned parenthood sounds flawed as well. But a good outcome is that planned parenthood raised nearly one million dollars (U.S.) from the flap, and the governor got more free (negative) publicity.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Is Tim Geithner Leading The Ailing Housing Sector?
HuffPost is saying that Timothy Geithner is concerned with pleasing bankers to an alarming extent.
But if it is true that renegotiations of housing interest rates are being considered, then the government will finally be appearing to do something. Most Americans want a strong leader in Treasury. They are worrying that Tim Geithner is not appearing strong enough. But of course, no one would be the perfect Treasury Secretary to everyone.
With The Wall Street Journal announcing foreclosure moratorium measures here, there would appear to be some leadership coming from the market, as I wrote on my other blog in more detail.
By the way, there are bloggers asking if patriotism is fine. Of course, I think it's fine. It's exclusionary protectionism that is counter-productive and harmful to trade.
Update 1: CNBC-TV at 1:45 p.m. EST reported that the President will make a big speech next Wednesday and also speak generally about the housing crisis early next week. They are also reporting that Goldman Sachs could free up capital which could boost the government policy decision and really help the markets. Daily Beast is reporting from Bloomberg that the stimulus (that is being signed at this moment), could help with funding in two waves: "First, "relief to cash-strapped consumers, businesses and states," followed by infrastructure spending designed to create jobs".
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mrs. Bernie Madoff Did It By Herself? Oh Please...
Just in the unlikely event you hadn't heard, here's an interesting report from Reuters:
Ruth Madoff pulled $10 million on December 10, the day before her husband was arrested and charged with running a global investment fraud, and $5.5 million on November 25, according to Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin....The disclosure of her withdrawals came in reports produced by Cohmad Securities, a firm co-owned by Bernard Madoff that had funneled millions of dollars from its clients to Madoff.
Ruth Madoff and son Andy
The New York Times says "Cohmad Securities was founded in 1985 by Mr. Madoff and a close associate, Maurice J. Cohn."
Civil and criminal investigations are continuing. Here are my related earlier posts.
Ruth Madoff pulled $10 million on December 10, the day before her husband was arrested and charged with running a global investment fraud, and $5.5 million on November 25, according to Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin....The disclosure of her withdrawals came in reports produced by Cohmad Securities, a firm co-owned by Bernard Madoff that had funneled millions of dollars from its clients to Madoff.
Ruth Madoff and son Andy
The New York Times says "Cohmad Securities was founded in 1985 by Mr. Madoff and a close associate, Maurice J. Cohn."
Civil and criminal investigations are continuing. Here are my related earlier posts.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Abducted Canadian-U.N. Negotiator In Clutches Of Al-Qaeda
Robert Fowler
There is further news in The Globe and Mail on my earlier story here, about three kidnapped hostages: kidnapped senior Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler, diplomat Louis Guay deputy director of the Sudan task force in Ottawa and Niger-based driver Soumana Moukaila. They were abducted December 14, 2008 on a high-level, low-profile mission to north Africa...."Suspicion has fallen on a group called Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a radical North African Islamic group that swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden in 2007."
The U.N. believes they might be alive because a video has appeared possibly taken just after the abduction. "After his [Fowler's] retirement, he was appointed last July as a special UN envoy to Niger to mediate between the government and armed rebel groups. But the UN kept the mission secret for six months - until he was kidnapped."
Why haven't the international press made a bigger deal of these abductions? I wish they would, because it will take a lot of work by many individuals to rescue them. The French- and English-Canadian press are trying to get the word out. It's taking a village of reporters to get this story heard, even as it is happening now. Details are unclear and the investigation is continuing.
Having recently seen the movie "Taken" my hope is that a hero like Liam Neeson (it probably will take many heroes) will save these official negotiators from dire straits.
It's Expensive Being Rich
$500K? They've Got to Be Kidding, Right?
There is an interesting and funny NY Times article here about today's costs of raising a family in Manhattan (which is where I shopped yesterday). Makes it sound like $5 million is a baseline figure for a salary and that this $500K limit just isn't going to happen.
In my view, as a mother, my common sense indicates that the article forgot to mention a few expenses and minimized others. University costs, summer camps and other expenses for multiple children barely got mentioned, and (country) club memberships at two residences didn't either, or unexpected country house maintenance and improvements, gift expenses and many different forms of transportation. What about setting some aside for the future?
What could Washington be thinking? Evidently it's cheaper to live in Georgetown than Manhattan.
Maureen Dowd, the Washington columnist, could have a field day with this one.
Robert Frank's new classic "Richistan" here at B-N details some of those expenses in greater depth. His current blog is here. Quite presciently he predicted in December '07, that in '08 the rich might come down to earth. And did they ever!
"...I expect prices in the art, wine, collectibles and high-end real-estate market to slow. I don’t expect a crash or a burst bubble, since there’s continued strong demand by the rich in China, Russia and the Middle East. But I don’t expect any $150 million paintings or $750,000 bottles of wine. And I think high-end real estate will plateau, if not decline.
In short: The rich will do better than the average consumer next year, since they are still getting the lion’s share of the economic gains. Yet their lives, and the prices they pay, may come back down to earth."
There is an interesting and funny NY Times article here about today's costs of raising a family in Manhattan (which is where I shopped yesterday). Makes it sound like $5 million is a baseline figure for a salary and that this $500K limit just isn't going to happen.
In my view, as a mother, my common sense indicates that the article forgot to mention a few expenses and minimized others. University costs, summer camps and other expenses for multiple children barely got mentioned, and (country) club memberships at two residences didn't either, or unexpected country house maintenance and improvements, gift expenses and many different forms of transportation. What about setting some aside for the future?
What could Washington be thinking? Evidently it's cheaper to live in Georgetown than Manhattan.
Maureen Dowd, the Washington columnist, could have a field day with this one.
Robert Frank's new classic "Richistan" here at B-N details some of those expenses in greater depth. His current blog is here. Quite presciently he predicted in December '07, that in '08 the rich might come down to earth. And did they ever!
"...I expect prices in the art, wine, collectibles and high-end real-estate market to slow. I don’t expect a crash or a burst bubble, since there’s continued strong demand by the rich in China, Russia and the Middle East. But I don’t expect any $150 million paintings or $750,000 bottles of wine. And I think high-end real estate will plateau, if not decline.
In short: The rich will do better than the average consumer next year, since they are still getting the lion’s share of the economic gains. Yet their lives, and the prices they pay, may come back down to earth."
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
American Science Deserves More Funding
The new administration is to be commended, so far, for not hiding behind the cover of 'religion' as an excuse for not funding scientific research. Whether the issues are the health-care of children, researching stem cells or funding contraception the idea that federal legislators can, in the name of 'religion' stop peer-reviewed scientific research is very disturbing to me.
Religious beliefs vary widely and should be separated from scientific progress, especially as far as legislation is concerned. Science works in spheres outside the purview of religion. Religion should be about love, relationships, the human spirit and our beliefs. Science need not be feared if it adds useful knowledge. It can definitely enhance our world view and religions in ways we cannot and have not been able to predict.
While I am religious in my own way, I don't like the idea that scientific progress can be stopped for 'religious reasons'. Now I know that some scientific, especially medical research can be inhuman, as happens in wartime, for example, and that would be wrong, I agree.
As an example, in this article in The New York Times, about a just-identified Nazi doctor who committed medical atrocities, whose identity and location has just been breaking news, it says that:
In an interview in the family’s villa in Baden-Baden, Mr. Heim, 53, admitted publicly for the first time that he was with his father in Egypt at the time of his death[in 1992].
It would appear his son hasn't been punished and should be, in my view, as he must have known his father was an internationally 'wanted' criminal. Perhaps with new technologies we have today, that doctor might have been located sooner. He and his son might have faced the consequences.
We really need new technologies of science and the sooner the better. Odd that with all the current bailout money being thrown at bankers and insurers, so little is given to scientists. They toil long hours for little pay or public recognition yet can have the most impact for improving our lives.
Indeed, where would we be without scientific innovations we take for granted now? Many of them had sources in research seed money from the federal government. As for private junkets to lavish 'recognition events' in tropical resorts, well, scientists usually find scientific achievement more satisfying and schedule travel visits to dorm rooms at universities for educational improvement and, yes, grudging respect from their peers.
Religious beliefs vary widely and should be separated from scientific progress, especially as far as legislation is concerned. Science works in spheres outside the purview of religion. Religion should be about love, relationships, the human spirit and our beliefs. Science need not be feared if it adds useful knowledge. It can definitely enhance our world view and religions in ways we cannot and have not been able to predict.
While I am religious in my own way, I don't like the idea that scientific progress can be stopped for 'religious reasons'. Now I know that some scientific, especially medical research can be inhuman, as happens in wartime, for example, and that would be wrong, I agree.
As an example, in this article in The New York Times, about a just-identified Nazi doctor who committed medical atrocities, whose identity and location has just been breaking news, it says that:
In an interview in the family’s villa in Baden-Baden, Mr. Heim, 53, admitted publicly for the first time that he was with his father in Egypt at the time of his death[in 1992].
It would appear his son hasn't been punished and should be, in my view, as he must have known his father was an internationally 'wanted' criminal. Perhaps with new technologies we have today, that doctor might have been located sooner. He and his son might have faced the consequences.
We really need new technologies of science and the sooner the better. Odd that with all the current bailout money being thrown at bankers and insurers, so little is given to scientists. They toil long hours for little pay or public recognition yet can have the most impact for improving our lives.
Indeed, where would we be without scientific innovations we take for granted now? Many of them had sources in research seed money from the federal government. As for private junkets to lavish 'recognition events' in tropical resorts, well, scientists usually find scientific achievement more satisfying and schedule travel visits to dorm rooms at universities for educational improvement and, yes, grudging respect from their peers.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Future Of Airline Screening
How many times have you attempted to take a flight only to be reminded that this is a post 9/11 world? Some, if not most of us can remember an earlier time with easier check-ins.
How many times have we families, especially mothers alone, been stopped at airports, especially with babies, and watched young men just whisked through, without having to undergo the same rigorous suitcase and full-body screening and occasional confiscations of potentially lethal beauty products?
The trouble with all the new screening is that it is impossible to quantify how many disasters they have averted with any degree of success. Impossible!
Remember just after 9/11 when the draconian new rules were put into place, and anthrax became another scary new menace? Everyone wanted the world the way it used to be. Nobody preferred to submit to these humiliating but necessary procedures. We all wished a better way could be found, besides going for private jets.
William H. Press
Now, as usual, it will be mathematicians, my heroes, who've put this vexing problem to the test. Finally, a mathematician who could be pressed, aptly named William H. Press, has stepped up to the challenge. There is an article in today's Science Times section of The New York Times that details the mathematics involved in screening at airports. His article appears here in the Proceeedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Alas, all that screening is here to stay with more on the way, if this article is any indication. We can only dream about what it used to be like, and congratulate ourselves on all the tragedies that have been averted as we patiently wait our turns through those long lines. Maybe security could hand out rewards to all of us for being so patient?
How many times have we families, especially mothers alone, been stopped at airports, especially with babies, and watched young men just whisked through, without having to undergo the same rigorous suitcase and full-body screening and occasional confiscations of potentially lethal beauty products?
The trouble with all the new screening is that it is impossible to quantify how many disasters they have averted with any degree of success. Impossible!
Remember just after 9/11 when the draconian new rules were put into place, and anthrax became another scary new menace? Everyone wanted the world the way it used to be. Nobody preferred to submit to these humiliating but necessary procedures. We all wished a better way could be found, besides going for private jets.
William H. Press
Now, as usual, it will be mathematicians, my heroes, who've put this vexing problem to the test. Finally, a mathematician who could be pressed, aptly named William H. Press, has stepped up to the challenge. There is an article in today's Science Times section of The New York Times that details the mathematics involved in screening at airports. His article appears here in the Proceeedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Alas, all that screening is here to stay with more on the way, if this article is any indication. We can only dream about what it used to be like, and congratulate ourselves on all the tragedies that have been averted as we patiently wait our turns through those long lines. Maybe security could hand out rewards to all of us for being so patient?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Dollars For Wildlife Is Flawed Policy
Ashley Judd
It really amazes me! The traditional press that I look to for most of my news misses some of the most important pieces at times. This one about Ashley Judd's effort to save wolves and bears in Alaska surfaced online at HuffPost.
To think that that the legislator involved is Governor of Alaska is something I don't like and don't understand. That legislator clearly doesn't have the intellectual and scientific support of millions of biologists and national wildlife experts who devote their lives to this study. Wildlife experts and biologists do not ever condone animal bounty hunting.
The history of hunting animals in America for money is that it doesn't work according to this article called "The Realities of Bounty Hunting". Wildlife experts say that:
1) "the difference with a bounty for wildlife is that money, not wildlife management and recreation, becomes the priority of those participating".
2) And usually, "biologists estimate a population reduction of half to two-thirds would be required to produce any noticeable long-term benefits"
3)"another factor against bounties is how much they actually increase the normal harvest".
Some species will over-reproduce in response to a shortage, and hunters might travel out-of-state (or -country, in Alaska's case) to get bounties, when money is a driving force. Methodology is flawed and uncoordinated in this case and failure is sure to result. Scrappy efforts based on flawed research haven't worked in the past. Hunters, even those who would ordinarily promote positive hunting, sometimes violate ethical laws in an effort to make money.
My own personal view is that hunting isn't a fashionable or desirable form of sport. Maybe movie stars can help change legislation to save the wildlife of the United States from bounty hunters by calling our attention to it.
Update 1, 2/07/2009: Glad the press is taking this ball and running with it.
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