Fascinating document from the Nixon Library explaining the process of producing the President's morning intelligence reading package - the President's Daily Brief, or PDB.
http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/virtuallibrary/documents/mr/031870_pdb.pdf
Friday, November 30, 2007
Top 10 Forecasts for 2008 & Beyond
Each year since 1985, the editors of The Futurist have selected the most thought-provoking ideas and forecasts appearing in the magazine. Over the years, Outlook has spotlighted the emergence of such epochal developments as the Internet, virtual reality, and the end of the Cold War.
My three favorite for 2008:
*The world will have a billion millionaires by 2025. Globalization and technological innovation are driving this increased prosperity. But challenges to prosperity will also become more acute, such as water shortages that will affect two-thirds of world population by 2025. --James Canton, author of "The Extreme Future," reviewed in THE FUTURIST May-June 2007, p. 54
*The threat of another cold war with China, Russia, or both could replace terrorism as the chief foreign-policy concern of the United States. Scenarios for what a war with China or Russia would look like make the clashes and wars in which the United States is now involved seem insignificant. The power of radical jihadists is trivial compared with Soviet missile capabilities, for instance. The focus of U.S. foreign policy should thus be on preventing an engagement among Great Powers. --Edward N. Luttwak, "Preserving Balance among the Great Powers," Nov-Dec 2006, p. 26
*Counterfeiting of currency will proliferate, driving the move toward a cashless society. Sophisticated new optical scanning technologies could, in the next five years, be a boon for currency counterfeiters, so societies are increasingly putting aside their privacy fears about going cashless. Meanwhile, cashless technologies are improving, making them far easier and safer to use. --Allen H. Kupetz, "Our Cashless Future," May-June 2007, p. 37
http://www.wfs.org/Nov-Dec%20Files/TOPTEN.htm
My three favorite for 2008:
*The world will have a billion millionaires by 2025. Globalization and technological innovation are driving this increased prosperity. But challenges to prosperity will also become more acute, such as water shortages that will affect two-thirds of world population by 2025. --James Canton, author of "The Extreme Future," reviewed in THE FUTURIST May-June 2007, p. 54
*The threat of another cold war with China, Russia, or both could replace terrorism as the chief foreign-policy concern of the United States. Scenarios for what a war with China or Russia would look like make the clashes and wars in which the United States is now involved seem insignificant. The power of radical jihadists is trivial compared with Soviet missile capabilities, for instance. The focus of U.S. foreign policy should thus be on preventing an engagement among Great Powers. --Edward N. Luttwak, "Preserving Balance among the Great Powers," Nov-Dec 2006, p. 26
*Counterfeiting of currency will proliferate, driving the move toward a cashless society. Sophisticated new optical scanning technologies could, in the next five years, be a boon for currency counterfeiters, so societies are increasingly putting aside their privacy fears about going cashless. Meanwhile, cashless technologies are improving, making them far easier and safer to use. --Allen H. Kupetz, "Our Cashless Future," May-June 2007, p. 37
http://www.wfs.org/Nov-Dec%20Files/TOPTEN.htm
Top 60 Japanese Buzzwords of 2007
Publisher Jiyu Kokuminsha has announced this year’s crop of nominees for Japanese buzzword of the year. The wide-ranging selection of 60 words and expressions — many of which come from the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment — were selected based on suggestions from the general public, and they provide an interesting look at some of the events, people and trends that had an impact on Japan in 2007.
http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/11/top-60-japanese-buzzwords-of-2007/
http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/11/top-60-japanese-buzzwords-of-2007/
Mad Networks
I was recently intrigued by a WSJ article on rolodexes. It notes that 500 business cards is a "piddling amount" by the standards of a hardcore networker. It also says that the 6,000 cards signals a huge network of contacts. I've had a friend say that her notable firm expects you to have 3,000 contacts to be a partner. My question to all of this is what is the definition of a "contact." Is it someone who you call once a year? Someone who you send a holiday card to? Or just someone who you've met at least once?
Clinging to the Rolodex
by Katherine Rosman
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119585920760602459.html
Clinging to the Rolodex
by Katherine Rosman
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119585920760602459.html
Cheating Sign: He's a Do-Gooder
I'm always skeptical of "ultra-volunteers" and "ultra-contributors."
What? Your guy contributes to the local orchestra fund, the church, and the alumni association, plus he volunteers to build houses for the homeless. How could a guy like that give into the temptation of midnight motel rooms?
A study just published in the November issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology found that when there's a blurry line between right and wrong (as there often is with matters of infidelity), the people who become the worst cheaters are actually the ones who think of themselves as having the highest moral standards.
Why? The speculation is that these people can justify their wrongdoings with explanations that they weren't doing anything wrong at all.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/menlovesex/70193/5-surprising-symptoms-of-infidelity/
What? Your guy contributes to the local orchestra fund, the church, and the alumni association, plus he volunteers to build houses for the homeless. How could a guy like that give into the temptation of midnight motel rooms?
A study just published in the November issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology found that when there's a blurry line between right and wrong (as there often is with matters of infidelity), the people who become the worst cheaters are actually the ones who think of themselves as having the highest moral standards.
Why? The speculation is that these people can justify their wrongdoings with explanations that they weren't doing anything wrong at all.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/menlovesex/70193/5-surprising-symptoms-of-infidelity/
Surgical Masks: Healthy or Useless
If you travel around Asia (esp. China/Japan), you'll notice many people wearing surgical masks if they are sick or because of air pollution. In the US and Europe, you see almost nobody wearing those masks. It seems like such a simple fix to spreading germs and avoiding polluted air - so why do so few people do it in the US and elsewhere? I think to an American, a surgical mask is associated with the Apocolypse and hospitals - it symbolizes tragedy, disease and death. Is there are way to make the surgical mask more sexy?
How about this? http://www.wired.com/news/images/full/snap_masks_f.jpg
How about this? http://www.wired.com/news/images/full/snap_masks_f.jpg
Rule of 72
Use this rule to understand compound interest...
http://genxfinance.com/2007/11/07/use-the-rule-of-72-to-understand-compound-interest/
http://genxfinance.com/2007/11/07/use-the-rule-of-72-to-understand-compound-interest/
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A-Bombs
Countries with A-Bombs: United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and North Korea.
Countries with Nuclear Capability: Iran, Brazil and Japan
Questionable: Argentina, Germany and The Netherlands
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/11/27/opinion/letters/01letter1127.txt
Countries with Nuclear Capability: Iran, Brazil and Japan
Questionable: Argentina, Germany and The Netherlands
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/11/27/opinion/letters/01letter1127.txt
Facebook is Almost 2/3 Women
Facts:
*The tool shows a total of 42,966,780 members in the top 31 countries. The U.S. leads with just over 18 million users, followed by the UK (6.8m), Canada (6.7m), Australia (1.9m) and Turkey (1.6m).
*Forty percent of U.S. users are male, compared to 36% overall. Men looking for love may want to try Ireland or China, where 73% and 72% of users are female, respectively. Other than the U.S., which has the highest percentage of males, the lowest percentage of female users is in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, UAE and Egypt.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/21/facebook-is-almost-23-women-and-other-stats/
*The tool shows a total of 42,966,780 members in the top 31 countries. The U.S. leads with just over 18 million users, followed by the UK (6.8m), Canada (6.7m), Australia (1.9m) and Turkey (1.6m).
*Forty percent of U.S. users are male, compared to 36% overall. Men looking for love may want to try Ireland or China, where 73% and 72% of users are female, respectively. Other than the U.S., which has the highest percentage of males, the lowest percentage of female users is in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, UAE and Egypt.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/21/facebook-is-almost-23-women-and-other-stats/
Video: Congressional Recess
Click the link for an amusing video about how much time Congress takes off for "recess."
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/26b0d09397
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/26b0d09397
Determine Your Real Age and Life Expectancy
This may not be the most accurate indicator, but it will help you think about where you can "improve" your life in order to perhaps live longer...
http://plabox.info/real-age/
http://plabox.info/real-age/
Champagne as an Economic Barometer
"Champagne sales are a remarkably accurate barometer of the world's economic health...while sales are dropping in the United States, they are skyrocketing in places where times are good... Sales to Russia rose 158 percent and to China by 74 percent in the first six months of the year..."
In France, Dollar's Decline Fails to Burst Champagne's Bubble
by John Ward Anderson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301682.html
In France, Dollar's Decline Fails to Burst Champagne's Bubble
by John Ward Anderson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301682.html
Most Desirable Country to Live In: Iceland
This is from the latest annual UN Development Index which rates 175 UN member countries plus Hong Kong and the Palestinian Territories. Here are some facts from this years Index:
*Iceland has overtaken Norway as the most desirable country to live in.
*Rich free-market countries dominate the top places, with Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada and Ireland the first five and the US slipping to 12th place from 8th place.
*Japanese have the longest life expectancy - 82.3 years - and Zambians the lowest, at 40.5 (although note that the index does not include 17 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia because of inadequate data.)
*The UN has published its human development index every year since 1990.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071127/lf_nm_life/un_development_index_dc
*Iceland has overtaken Norway as the most desirable country to live in.
*Rich free-market countries dominate the top places, with Iceland, Norway, Australia, Canada and Ireland the first five and the US slipping to 12th place from 8th place.
*Japanese have the longest life expectancy - 82.3 years - and Zambians the lowest, at 40.5 (although note that the index does not include 17 countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia because of inadequate data.)
*The UN has published its human development index every year since 1990.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071127/lf_nm_life/un_development_index_dc
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Natural Disasters Have Quadrupled in 2 Decades
More than four times the number of natural disasters are occurring now than did two decades ago, British charity Oxfam said in a study Sunday that largely blamed global warming.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071125/sc_afp/britainweatherclimate
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071125/sc_afp/britainweatherclimate
Afro-Asiatic Style: Iona Rozeal Brown
"Modeling those works on Japanese Edo-era woodblock prints, brown turned geishas into go-go girls with afros and track suits and dark brown makeup. Her influence was the real-life Japanese subculture of ganguro, kids who mimic African Americans as an act of rebellion and badge of hipness. The resulting pictures bewilder and intrigue by subtly melding cultures."
G Fine Art's Kitsch and Makeup
by Jessica Dawson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23927-2004Nov3.html
G Fine Art's Kitsch and Makeup
by Jessica Dawson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23927-2004Nov3.html
Age Limit for US Senators?
"Robert Byrd of West Virginia is the oldest, at 90, but he's just one of 42 Senators 65 or over. And that total could top 50 (half of the Senate) within three years. While the average American is 37, no Senators are in their 30s, and just 13 were born after 1955. Should there be an age limit for Senators? Are too many of them out of touch?"
-From 11/25/07 Parade Magazine
-From 11/25/07 Parade Magazine
Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Businesses
This is from 2006; in millions of metric tons
*Conoco Phillips: 62.3
*Chevron: 61.3
*Wal-Mart: 20.2
*General Electric: 10.8
*General Motors: 10.3
*Ford: 8.7
Coca Cola: 4.8
Procter & Gamble: 2.9
IBM: 2.8
Target: 2.6
General Mills: 1.1
Colgate-Palmolive: 0.7
Microsoft: 0.4
*Conoco Phillips: 62.3
*Chevron: 61.3
*Wal-Mart: 20.2
*General Electric: 10.8
*General Motors: 10.3
*Ford: 8.7
Coca Cola: 4.8
Procter & Gamble: 2.9
IBM: 2.8
Target: 2.6
General Mills: 1.1
Colgate-Palmolive: 0.7
Microsoft: 0.4
RSVP Rudeness
Is it rude not to RSVP? Apparently not...
"It has been suggested that some people do not understand what RSVP stands for, because the abbreviation comes from the french répondez s'il vous plaît, which directly translates to respond if you please."
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylc=X3oDMTFtMXI2N3ZvBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMzk2NTQ1MTAzBHNlYwNmcm9udCBwYWdlBHNsawNGUC1Ub2RheUludA--?qid=20071116042542AAfKOjQ&fr=hp
"It has been suggested that some people do not understand what RSVP stands for, because the abbreviation comes from the french répondez s'il vous plaît, which directly translates to respond if you please."
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylc=X3oDMTFtMXI2N3ZvBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMzk2NTQ1MTAzBHNlYwNmcm9udCBwYWdlBHNsawNGUC1Ub2RheUludA--?qid=20071116042542AAfKOjQ&fr=hp
Monday, November 19, 2007
Why Intelligent People Tend to be Unhappy
I'd be interested to find a study proving that intelligent people are indeed less happy...
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8778/Why-Intelligent-People-Tend-To-Be-Unhappy
http://www.scribd.com/doc/8778/Why-Intelligent-People-Tend-To-Be-Unhappy
An Economist Goes to a Bar
"We males are a gender of fragile egos in search of a pretty face and are threatened by brains or success that exceeds our own. Women, on the other hand, care more about how men think and perform, and they don't mind being outdone on those scores."
That has been a commonly held belief for a long time, but, the more interesting thing relates to racial preferences...
"Women of all the races we studied revealed a strong preference for men of their own race: White women were more likely to choose white men; black women preferred black men; East Asian women preferred East Asian men; Hispanic women preferred Hispanic men. But men don't seem to discriminate based on race when it comes to dating. A woman's race had no effect on the men's choices.
"Two wrinkles on this: We found no evidence of the stereotype of a white male preference for East Asian women. However, we also found that East Asian women did not discriminate against white men (only against black and Hispanic men). As a result, the white man-Asian woman pairing was the most common form of interracial dating—but because of the women's neutrality, not the men's pronounced preference. We also found that regional differences mattered. Daters of both sexes from south of the Mason-Dixon Line revealed much stronger same-race preferences than Northern daters."
An Economist Goes to a Bar
by Ray Fisman
http://www.slate.com/id/2177637/
That has been a commonly held belief for a long time, but, the more interesting thing relates to racial preferences...
"Women of all the races we studied revealed a strong preference for men of their own race: White women were more likely to choose white men; black women preferred black men; East Asian women preferred East Asian men; Hispanic women preferred Hispanic men. But men don't seem to discriminate based on race when it comes to dating. A woman's race had no effect on the men's choices.
"Two wrinkles on this: We found no evidence of the stereotype of a white male preference for East Asian women. However, we also found that East Asian women did not discriminate against white men (only against black and Hispanic men). As a result, the white man-Asian woman pairing was the most common form of interracial dating—but because of the women's neutrality, not the men's pronounced preference. We also found that regional differences mattered. Daters of both sexes from south of the Mason-Dixon Line revealed much stronger same-race preferences than Northern daters."
An Economist Goes to a Bar
by Ray Fisman
http://www.slate.com/id/2177637/
Economics of "Hot or Not" Website
"You're not attractive and neither is your girlfriend, but in order to stomach the prospect of a long-term relationship, you delude yourself into believing she's better looking than she really is."
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/odd-numbers/2007/11/18/youre-not-attractive
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/odd-numbers/2007/11/18/youre-not-attractive
Friday, November 16, 2007
Happiness of the Job
See where your job rates on the happiness level. Gas station attendants and bartenders need good tips (or benefits - free gas?) because their job satisfaction appears quite low. Lawyers ranked really high, contrary to what many may think.
http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/job.html
http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/job.html
How You Spend Your Time
See how you compare with the rest of the US. On TV watching, Americans spend 2.35 hours on average. The average US household has more televisions (2.73) than people (2.6). After work and sleep, TV takes up the largest segment of an American's day. Americans spend "only" 1.14 hours eating/drinking per day and only 17 minutes excercising. The site says that Americans spent 20 minutes on average surfing the net, but is says that some figures put it closer to 2.5 hours. Because of that huge difference, I tend not to believe the other statistics a great deal...
http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/play.html
http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/play.html
Map: Who Has the Oil?
Note that the map does not appear to take into consideration the oil sands in Canada or things like oil shale in the middle of the US...
http://www.civicactions.com/sites/home2.civicactions.net/files/map01_1024.jpg
http://www.civicactions.com/sites/home2.civicactions.net/files/map01_1024.jpg
Chart: Money Spent on Energy Research vs. Iraq War
Note that the figures are in millions. The source for energy R&D expenditures is from the National Council for Science and the Environment.
http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-trends/a-sick-graph-2/
http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-trends/a-sick-graph-2/
Sunday, November 11, 2007
How America Differs From Europe/World
On November 10, Chris Matthews spoke before an audience in Miami suggesting how America will be able to "survive" what looks like a host of domestic and global problems. The two things that make America unique and strong are 1) adaptability, and 2) assimilation. Americans are able to give up things if it is absolutely needed and he said that anyone is able to become an American - unlike in Europe, China, Japan, etc...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
$25,000 Dessert Sets Guiness Record
Do you want a brand new car or a fleeting dessert? Most would probably choose the car, but anyone who can afford such a dessert probably already has a nice car. The memory and "cocktail talk potential" of the dessert may actually be worth its weight in gold...
"Stephen Bruce, owner of Serendipity 3, partnered with luxury jeweler Euphoria New York to create the "Frrozen Haute Chocolate," a blend of 28 cocoas, including 14 of the most expensive and exotic from around the globe."
New York's $25,000 dessert sets Guiness Record
by Vivianne Rodrigues
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0753679220071107?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true
"Stephen Bruce, owner of Serendipity 3, partnered with luxury jeweler Euphoria New York to create the "Frrozen Haute Chocolate," a blend of 28 cocoas, including 14 of the most expensive and exotic from around the globe."
New York's $25,000 dessert sets Guiness Record
by Vivianne Rodrigues
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0753679220071107?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
53% of Men Admit to Ogling Other Women
Does a Wandering Eye Mean a Wandering Heart?
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/menlovesex/67486/does-a-wandering-eye-mean-a-wandering-heart/
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/menlovesex/67486/does-a-wandering-eye-mean-a-wandering-heart/
Friday, November 2, 2007
Video: Noodling
I respect noodling more than almost any other sport. Skill, timing, patience, knowledge of nature, bravery, daring, strength, stamina, craziness...
http://www.livevideo.com/video/F7C455C18CCF4C9D9B6B83EA681BFBD9/manly-cat-fish-catching.aspx
http://www.livevideo.com/video/F7C455C18CCF4C9D9B6B83EA681BFBD9/manly-cat-fish-catching.aspx
Map: Countries Distorted to Represent Relative Population
Australia looks like it has turned into some sort of Dr. Seuess creation...Russia has turned into a toothpick...I'd love to see a moving map based on future populations estimates and how the countries would shrink/grow in size.
http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/images/largepng/2.png
http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/images/largepng/2.png
Books to Base Your Life On
Not exactly my choice of books, but it still may give you a few ideas...
http://www.ryanholiday.net/archives/entries/ryan_clark_holiday_book_list_1.phtml
http://www.ryanholiday.net/archives/entries/ryan_clark_holiday_book_list_1.phtml
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Top 100 US Conservatives and Liberals
Study this list to understand the political intricacies of the US...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/listintro.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/listintro.xml
Millionaires - Just Middle Class
"Private wealth specialists Lewis Schiff and Russ Alan Prince found the number of Americans with $1 million to $10 million had risen to 8.4 million households -- or 7.6 percent of U.S. households -- and was growing at 15 percent a year...But instead of entering the echelons of the elite, these new millionaires adhere to middle-class values, earning their money rather than inheriting it, working 70 hours a week, and choosing neighborhoods based on the quality of schools...He said the four main characteristics of a millionaire were that they were hard working, networked, persistent even in the face of failure, and put themselves in the flow of money."
More US Millionaires are Middle Class
by Belinda Goldsmith
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071101/lf_nm_life/wealth_millionaires_dc
More US Millionaires are Middle Class
by Belinda Goldsmith
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071101/lf_nm_life/wealth_millionaires_dc
Do Kids Cause Stress?
I'd like to see who funded this study...But basically, a 3% difference is not that great. My conclusion: kids or no kids, you have about a 10% chance of having serious pyschological distress within the next year.
"Children bring joy and stress into a parents life, but a new study finds that parents report fewer pyschological problems than their non-parenting counterparts. A national survey of more than 33,000 American adults found that 9% of parents say that they have experienced serious pyschological distress in the past year. It was 12% for non-parents."
-From Yahoo/ABC News Clip 11/1/07
"Children bring joy and stress into a parents life, but a new study finds that parents report fewer pyschological problems than their non-parenting counterparts. A national survey of more than 33,000 American adults found that 9% of parents say that they have experienced serious pyschological distress in the past year. It was 12% for non-parents."
-From Yahoo/ABC News Clip 11/1/07
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