Question of the Week: Questions

Is it better to have more questions than answers?

Questions of the Month: Books

How many books should you read in a year? What is the average number of books read per year per person? On average, how many books do most people read at one time? Is it smart to do that? Is there an association between book reading and income level? What country reads the most? What profression reads the most? What is the average time it takes someone to read a average book? How many pages does the average book have? What is the most popular book genre? What religion reads the most? How should one balance reading books vs. magazines, newspapers, and blogs? What is the average profit (or loss) someone gets from writing a published book? What is the average time it takes to write a book? What is the average age of someone who writes a book? What else do you want to know about books?

Question of the Day: Average Cost of a Book

Q: How many books were published last year? What was the average price of a book?

A: This information usually appears in the Information Today publication, The Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac, in a section called "Book Title Output and Average Prices."

http://www.ilovelibraries.org/getinformed/frequent-questions/index.cfm

*The average price of a mass-market paperback in 2007 was $8.30.
*The average cost of a trade paperback (fiction) in 2007 was $15.64
*The average cost of a trade paperback (nonfiction( in 2007 was $20.40

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6536651.html

How Many Libraries in the US?

The American Library Association (ALA) says 123,129, as of early 2009. Of those, 9,208 (or roughly 7.5%) are public libraries. I wonder how many libraries there are in the world and how many books an average library contains.

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/library/libraryfactsheet/alalibraryfactsheet1.cfm

Here is one attempt at the question of how many books in an average library:

Okay. Let's try.

The United States Library of Congress has approximately 32 million books. So, the upper limit of the "Average" number of books is surely that number. The lower limit is zero. There, you see. Already we've narrowed it down from "oh this is an impossible question" to a mere finite interval.

Okay, and I'm going to answer this question for "how many books are there in the average library in the United States." First, some assumptions: there are approximately 30,000 incorporated cities in the United States, and I will assume each has a library. Also, schools have libraries, and there are "personal" libraries, as well. The three books that you may have on your shelf constitutes a library, too (or at least I would argue). Now, the personal libraries are small, and their sum total won't affect the average by too much, so let us ignore them.

City libraries are bigger than "school" libraries, also for the mere reason that some cities have libraries but no schools. Let us assume that the average city library is two floors, with one hundred book shelves, each of which has 6 shelves, and each shelf holds 30 books. So, an "average" city library holds 100 x 6 x 30 = 18,000 books. And, let us assume that each city does HAVE at least one school, and most likely more, so let us assume that the "average city" has two schools, and that their libraries are smaller. Say, 10,000 books. Thus, and "average city" has three libraries, for a total of 28,000 books. Multiply that by 30,000 "cities", and you get 840,000,000 books in 90,000 "libraries".

Now, for the Universities and Colleges. Their collections are much more grand than a city library. So, let us assume that a university (most Universities have more than 1 library) approximately 500,000 books. In fact, the "good" schools have in excess of several million volumes in their libraries, but then there are some that have less than one-half million. And, there are approximately 1,500 institutions of higher education in the United States, so, a total of 500,000 x 1,500 = 75,000,000 books in 1,500 libraries.

Hmm, notice how the "university" holdings are dwarfed by the "city" holdings, merely by the reason that cities have numbers on their side :)

Now, add in a few specialized libraries such as the Library of Congress. Assume there are, oh, 5 such grand "libraries", and that each holds, oh, on average, 10 million books. So our grand total is:

City: 840,000,000 books, 90,000 libraries
Universities: 75,000,000 books, 1,500 libraries
Other: 50,000,000 books, 5 libraries
TOTAL = 965,000,000 books, 91,505 libraries
For an Average of 950,000,000,000/91,505 = 10.545 (and change)
They seems about right, don't you think. So, the Average library has about 10,000 books.

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/50441

On Obituary Writing

"How many obits do papers keep in the can? Depends on the organization's size and resources. The New York Times claims to have 1,200 'advancers' ready, the oldest written back in 1982. The Washington Post has about 150 prepped."

Early Deadlines
by Christopher Beam
http://www.slate.com/id/2226505/

Also, an excellent piece on obituaries written by the WPost's former ombudsman:

"Another reader noticed that there are far more black faces in the paid death notices than in the news obituaries. Lamb isn't certain of the reason, but thinks it may be cultural and that some minorities are not aware that they can request a news obit, while a paid death notice is part of the service of a mortuary. Lamb is concerned that The Post doesn't get many Asian or Hispanic obituaries, either."

The Craft of Telling Life Stories
by Deborah Howell
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/07/AR2006040701766.html

World's Five Fastest Trains

The World's 5 Fastest Trains You Can Ride Right Now
by Allie Haake
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4328859.html

Fast Food: Real vs. Ads

While the images aren't spectacular, you get the idea. I wonder if any fast food restaurants have been sued for false advertising. Who (if anyone) has the legal right and responsibility to monitor ads?

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Fast-Food-Revealed-Real-vs.-Ads.html

Flag of Convenience

A flag of convenience is a ship registered under the maritime laws of a country (such as Liberia or Panama) which is not the home country of the ship's owners, because the country of registry offers low tax rates and/or leniency in crew and safety requirements.

"Currently the three largest ship registries are open registers, namely Panama, Liberia and the Bahamas."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience

Know Your Jamón Ibérico

"Jamón Ibérico de Bellota is the highest level of quality and represents only about 10% of the total Jamón Ibérico production. It is particularly expensive to produce because during the three to four month fattening period, each pig is given at least an acre of its own on the wooded pasture known as the Dehesa. The most important feature of this classification is that during the months of fattening, these pigs eat nothing but the acorns that have fallen from the holm oak and cork oak trees that populate the dehesa. Within these months (known as the Montanera) a pig will put on between 40% - 60% of its final weight of about 350 lbs at slaughter which takes place traditionally in the first few weeks of January. Jamón Ibérico de Recebo is the second level of quality that comes from the pigs that have not fattened up sufficiently during the months of the Montanera. These pigs also ate acorns during that period, but once the acorns are gone, they are fed on a diet of barley, grains and grasses until they are slaughtered in the spring. [The third level of quality is Jamón Ibérico de Pienso.]

http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/node/87

The 7 Stages of Being Fat

http://www.maxim.com/humor/articles/83875/7-stages-being-fat.html

Do Mosquitos Favor Certain Blood Types?

"Generally speaking, mosquitos favor people with type O blood over those with types A and B blood, confirming the earlier research. They really favor type O [saccharide] secretors over type O nonsecretors and type A secretors. If you're a type O secretor, to a mosquito you look like caramel-covered crack."

-The Straight Dope; August 26, 2009
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/columns/thestraightdope/

Also check out:

Finding Smells That Repel
by Shirley Wang
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204660604574378933761528214.html?mod=yhoofront

Dollar Now Cheaper to Borrow Than Yen

Does this mean a dollar carry-trade boom?

"Borrowing in dollars has become cheaper than borrowing in Japanese yen for the first time in 16 years, a sign that fear in the credit markets, which drove borrowing costs sharply higher, has eased significantly."

Dollar Now Cheaper to Borrow Than Yen
by Craig Karmin, Carrick Mollenkamp, and David Roman
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125131560834161423.html#mod=todays_us_money_and_investing

The Next Big Drink: Coconut Water

"A popular drink in Brazil, the water is now catching on in the U.S., thanks to its healthy image and athletes and celebrities such as Madonna who drink the product. The goal now is to broaden the reach of coconut water drinkers beyond the athletically inclined."

Coconut Water Bubbles
by Suzanne Vranica
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125132416429761857.html#mod=todays_us_marketplace

Question of the Week: Spying

Which countries spy upon each other the most? Is it US/Israel, US/Russia, US/China, US/Cuba, Japan/China, Venezuela/Colombia, South Korea/North Korea, China/Taiwan, US/EU, Israel/Iran, India/Pakistan, or any other pairs?

*Top 10 Spy Agencies
http://www.askmen.com/top_10/top_10_200/202_top_10_list.html

*Foreign Policy List of Top Spy Agencies
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4140

Question of the Day: Politics & Money

Is it possible to take money out of politics? Should we? As John Pitney, Jr. said in a 1998 article:

"No one can take money out of politics as long as people can make money by influencing public policy. With its wide array of rules and programs, contemporary government offers economic interests opportunities to gain subsidies, monopolies, and other advantages."

The Seven Deadly Sins of Politics
by John Pitney, Jr.
http://www.reason.com/news/show/30588.html

Great Books Programs

Does going to a college/university that only has a Great Books Program (e.g., St. John's College) make you a less well-rounded student, even if you are reading about multiple subjects? What is the pay differential for graduates of such a program versus graduates of more traditional schools?

*List of Great Books Programs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Books

What To Do If Stuck On a Runway

I agree that they should pass legislation which would require that you can't be stuck in a plane on the runway for more than three hours...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090826/ap_tr_ge/us_travel_flight_plan_tarmac_delays

Calculate When You'll Die

http://www.deathriskrankings.com/

Liv-Ex Wine Index

The London International Vintners Exchange (Liv-Ex)

"It is an exchange for investment-grade wine based in London. Liv-ex, which was founded in 1999, provides a marketplace where wine merchants are able to trade wine, and also publishes two wine price indices based on these transactions which are widely used to gauge general price developments for the 'fine wine' market in general."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_International_Vintners_Exchange

*Homepage: http://www.liv-ex.com/

*Check out this entry of "first growth" wines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Growth

*Also check out wineprices.com: http://wineprices.vinfolio.com/do/wineprices/home (Notice the various indexes at the bottom left, for example, the "Fine Wine 100.")

Water Tax?

"We need a new water policy in the United States. Americans do not pay the real cost of the water that we use. In fact, we don't pay for water at all. The check that citizens write to their municipal water department or private water company covers only the cost of service, plus a small profit for the private company. There is no charge for the water itself. Last summer, as the price of gas inched up over $4 a gallon, Toyota dealers couldn't keep fuel-efficient Priuses in stock. We should apply that pricing lesson if we want to conserve water, using increasing block rates to discourage profligate water use."

Our Water Supply, Down the Drain
by Robert Glennon
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101773.html

Patagonia's 1% For the Planet

Great clothing, neat concept, and cool blog...
http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/

*The blog
http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/blog/

Can Stress Make Allergies Worse?

"In recent years, studies have shown that psychological stress and anxiety — even at slight or moderate levels — can worsen allergy symptoms. Scientists suspect that it has something to do with the way stress affects the immune system, causing elevated levels of compounds that heighten the allergic response and remain unaffected by standard treatments for hay fever, like antihistamines."

The Claim: Stress Can Make Allergies Worse
by Anahad O'Connor
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/health/18real.html?ex=1266811200&en=0bb6e3a6dfe558c3&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-0826-L17

Green-Tech of the Week: Pneumatic Tubes

"The coolest part of Hammarby Sjostad, a new eco-neighborhood of Stockholm, is the trash. It gets sucked through pneumatic tubes - at 43 mph - after residents drop their household waste into special chutes: one for food that will get composted, another for paper to be recycled, and a third for garbage that can be burned. As the latter gets incinerated, the energy produced is converted into district heating and electricity."

Where Pneumatic Tubes Rule
by Jason Spingarn-Koff
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1917732,00.html

Price-to-Rent Ratio

To Rent or Buy?

"To figure out which is better now, start with the fact that in the long run, the costs of owning and renting stay in fairly steady proportion. Economists call this the price-to-rent ratio - take the average cost of buying a house and divide it by what you'd pay in rent in a year. The analysis shop Economy.com calculates that since 1986, the price-to-rent ratio for US cities has averaged 16.5. In other words, the price of a house is the same as what you'd pay to rent it over 16.5 years."

Own-ward Bound?
by Barbara Kiviat
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1917725,00.html

Cool Chart: Blue Crab Anatomy

*Exterior Anatomy
http://www.bluecrab.info/anatomy.html

*Interior Anatomy
http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLFieldGuide/CrabBiol.htm

Pics: Air Travels' Glory Years

Why is the "glitz and glam" of flying all but lost? Is it because it is not so exlusive anymore? Has the image of beauty and flight attendants declined? If so, is it because of equal rights campaigns?

http://vacations.com/50-photos-from-air-travels-glory-years

Healthy Sex Improves Career Prospects

"Times may be tough, but anthropologist and Chemistry.com founder Helen Fisher has found a bright side: Work on your sex life, and you may improve your career prospects. Sexual activity increases the rush of dopamine in the brain, which also contributes to enhanced creativity and problem solving, Fisher explains. Other beneficial chemicals boosted by sex include oxytocin and vasopressin, which generate feelings of trust and attachment--the perfect prescription for better team work. And of course there's testosterone, which improves self-confidence in both men and women. In higher doses, it stimulates competitiveness and, hence, productivity."

http://www.chemistry.com/drhelenfisher/

On Micropatronage

"Kickstarter is a start-up based in Brooklyn that uses the Web to match aspiring da Vincis and Spielbergs with mini-Medicis who are willing to chip in a few dollars toward their projects. Unlike similar sites that simply solicit donations, patrons on Kickstarter get an insider’s access to the projects they finance, and in most cases, some tangible memento of their contribution. The artists and inventors, meanwhile, are able to gauge in real time the commercial appeal of their ideas before they invest a lot of effort — and cash."

A Few Dollars at a Time, Patrons Support Artists on the Web
by Jenna Wortham
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/technology/start-ups/25kick.html?_r=2&hpw

Prison Consultants

"They help get you into the best prison and orient you on its rules and customs. Going to prison is a little bit like heading off to college. The first step is finding an institution that's right for you. Then there's a lot of anxiety: Who will be your roommate? Where is the library? What time does the dining hall close? How do you make a good impression with the people in charge? Will you make friends? A prison consultant addresses these concerns."

What Do Prison Consultants Do?
by Brian Palmer
http://www.slate.com/id/2226288/

Video of the Day: Brazil's Pee in Your Shower Campaign

Do it for the sake of water conservation...

http://dotsub.com/view/5a70059a-cf8e-491a-b3f5-f692b2b7d29f

Quiz of the Week: Newsweek

Four incredibly tough quizzes...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/211931

Cool Pics: 10 Extraordinary Lakes

http://www.womansday.com/Content/Family-Lifestyle/10-Extraordinary-Lakes

Map: Walled World

http://kobold.loud.nl/td/uploads/files/c660e616d5d83111d6af3e701493d27f.walled_world_td-architects.jpg.jpg

How Long for an Athlete to Make $100,000?

"According to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, it takes an average U.S. citizen a shade under four years to earn $100,000. Alex Rodriguez does it in six pitches. Mr. Rodriguez has seen 1,593 pitches entering Monday's game, so after prorating his $33 million salary, he earns roughly $15,856 every time he sees a pitch. But the Yankees' third baseman doesn't necessarily do the least amount of work in sports to pull down $100,000. Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers may have him beat. If you include his signing bonus, Mr. Roethlisberger brought in 100 grand for every 3.6 snaps he took in 2008. Despite not winning a major this year, Tiger Woods has held his own, too. He's made roughly $100,000 for every 11.2 holes he's played."

How Long Does it Take an Athlete to Make $100,000?
by David Biderman
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970203706604574371013208743826.html#mod=todays_us_opinion

Lobster Boat Racing

"The number of race participants varies from about 50 to as many as 150. Everyone who pays the registration fee, typically $20, gets to take part in 'hat drawings' wherein all entrants win some sort freebie donated by local merchants. Drawing prizes range from $100 bills, lobster traps and motor oil to gift certificates for boat-painting services and pizza. Some boat owners pay the entry fee just to take part in the drawings but don't actually compete on the water, although race organizers frown on such behavior."

In Maine, a Rivalry Boils Up On the Lobster-Boat Racing Circuit
by Robert Tomsho
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125115648215255195.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

How Does the News Cycle Work?

"It has three parts. Overnight, newspapers launch the news. They publish stories clarifying the events of yesterday; they break their own investigative stories; they print zeitgeist-defining feature articles and op-eds. The morning brings Phase 2, when Web media reacts to the news. Bloggers and other sites respond to the news that broke overnight, and newsmakers push back against or try to exploit these stories. Phase 3, the buildup, comes in the afternoon, as the events of the day unfold—congressional action, a presidential gaffe, turmoil in Asia. The media break this news, and analyze how it fits together with yesterday's top stories. Opinion makers try to shape how the day's events will play on the night's cable shows and in tomorrow's newspapers. The next morning, it all starts over again."

Introducing "The Slatest," a Better News Aggregator
by David Plotz
http://www.slate.com/id/2225909/

Whose Voice is That on Weather Radio?

"The National Weather Service embarked on a Voice Improvement Processor (VIP) program in late 2000, and implemented newer text-to-speech voices nationwide in 2002, nicknamed 'Donna' and 'Craig'. A year later, further updates were made. The 'Donna' voice was improved, 'Craig' was replaced by 'Tom', and a Spanish voice 'Javier' was added at a few sites. All of the VIP voices have been produced using the Speechify text-to-speech system."

http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/newvoice.htm

Shocking Figure of the Week: Defense Budget

"There is a dangerous disconnect between the seriousness of the terrorist nuclear thereat (and other WMDs) and the allocation of resources in the Federal Budget. Out of the $631 billion defense budget, less thatn $2 billion - one third of one percent - is dedicated to securing loose nukes or nuclear material that could fall into the hands of terrorists. Compare that funding with the $224 billion price tag for the Joint Strike Fighter, the $132 billion cost of the Army's Future Combat Systems, or the $3.3 billion cost for each of the Navy's new DDG high-tech destroyers."

-Charles Konigsberg in his book America's Priorities

Question of the Week: Homelessness

A very good question. While I do think that people often treat animals better than other humans, there is a big difference. I don't think anyone is used to seeing whales or dogs lying in the street in a big city, whereas homeless people are relatively abundant. There are money and volunteers being thrown at the problem, but some simply refuse to get help. Dogs and whales can't refuse a human offer. So it appears that there needs to be a different way to approach homelessness rather than with just money and food donations. Is there any example where I city has been extremely effective in addressing homelessness?

"There's a lot of vets out here on the streets, he said. I've seen men lay right in the middle of the road and people walk by like they're not there. If that was a whale, if that was a dog, wouldn't someone save it?"

Homelessness Grows in the Shadow of the White House
by Leila Fadel
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/74025.html

Which is More Overrated: America or Europe?

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/08/is-it-america-or-europe-which-is-overrated.html

Food Quote of the Week: Sinful Eating

"The meatloaf sandwich slathered with Thousand Island dressing and cheddar is worth at least a week of field-greens penance."

-Ann Limpert reviewing the restaurant Jackson's Famous Roasting & Carving Co.

Questions I Still Can't Answer

In a job interview, when someone asks what your biggest weakness is, I still don't know the perfect response.

Here is a one good way to approach that question...
http://www.freethedrones.com/blog/2006/12/06/job-interview-question-whats-your-biggest-weakness/

Question of the Day: Art

On average, how much does a piece of art appreciate after the artist has died?

Term of the Day: "Fuck You" Money

I believe this term is often used in the technology/Internet industry. I presume that the amount to achieve "fuck you" money status is different for everyone, but I guess it would have to start somewhere in the millions of dollars for most people in the US. When I was younger, I'd probably define it as having enough money where I could feel comfortable walking into any establishment with flip-flops.

"An amount of wealth that enables an individual to reject traditional social behavior and niceties of conduct without fear of consequences."

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fuck-you%20money

*This guy suggests that "fuck you" money is generally between $2 and $4 million because at that point you could "count on $50,000 to $100,000 in interest, or just enough to say fuck you to any unscrupulous employer, employee, or vulture capitalist you wanted."
http://www.brianlash.com/post/161938794/fuck-you-money-kinda-nsfw

*An article not about the "fuck you" number but about something called the "I'm fucked" number - not about how much do you want but about how little can you live on..
http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2009/02/11/Personal-Finances-in-the-New-Economy/?print=true

*Find out your "I'm fucked" number using this interactive tool...
http://www.portfolio.com/interactive-features/2009/03/Do-the-Math/

Question of the Week: Wealth Distribution

Q: If all the money in the world were redistributed so that everyone had the same amount, what would it be?

A: The global money supply is about $60 trillion. (Economists call tis figure the M3 value; it includes much more than currency.) Say that we take it all - which means that you and Bill Gates would have nothing in the bank - and then distribute it equally among every individual in the world, about 6.8 billion people. Each man, woman, and child would recieve about $9,000. So, if your housefold now has less than $9,000 per person, you would gain. If you have more, you would lose.

-Marilyn vos Savant, August 23, 2009, Parade Magazine

Scary Sentence of the Day

"Jenkins was accused of killing his ex-wife, a model whose body was so badly mutilated when found in a trash bin outside Los Angeles it had to be identified by her breast implants' serial numbers."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cn_canada_reality_contestant_slaying

From Slate:

"How much information can be gleaned from a fake breast?
The owner's name, address, phone number, and Social Security number, as well as the contact information for her surgeon and primary-care doctor. By checking an implant's serial number against a manufacturer database, police can also learn the date of implantation, whether the fake breast was on the left or right side of the body, and whether the implant had to be removed or replaced at any point."

What Can You Learn From a Fake Breast?
by Brian Palmer
http://www.slate.com/id/2226143/

The Economics of Donating Art

"Reacting to museums' complaints of sharp declines in art donations, a bill announced Friday by Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, could revive the practice of so-called fractional gifts by making the process easier and more tax-advantageous. Before the 2006 Pension Protection Act, collectors were allowed a tax break when they donated a work of art incrementally, giving away a certain percentage of rights to the work each year. Restrictions in the act prevented donors from realizing tax benefits on the appreciation of the art's value and limited the time allotted to complete the donation to 10 years. Now Sen. Schumer hopes to 'restore the incentive for collectors to share these works of art with the public,' he said. Among other things, the proposed change allows donors 20 years to complete the donation of the gift and lets them take a tax deduction on some of the appreciation."

Restoration Work on Gifts of Art
by Shelly Banjo
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124967868204915441.html

Mei Moses Index

http://www.artasanasset.com/main/

*What is the Mei-Moses Art Index?

"It is an index to track the value of international and marketable art works. Michael Moses, founder of the Mei Moses Art Index, uses the recent auction prices of museum quality art to determine the appreciation of various works of art."

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/19/what-is-the-mei-moses-art-index/

*Is Art a Wise Investment? (An interesting Slate article that mentions the Mei-Moses Index)
http://www.slate.com/id/2144185/

Why so Few Tall Sprinters?

"If Bolt's long legs give him such an edge, why haven't there been more tall sprinters? Traditionally, height has been seen as a detriment to sprinting. The formula for speed is stride length times stride rate. If the longest legs always won the race, then Yao Ming would have the world record in the 100, and lions wouldn't eat giraffes. Gangly guys, the thinking has always gone, don't win short races because they can't master the smooth form required to generate rapid leg turnover.

"So will the starting blocks at the 2012 Olympics be filled by giants? Probably not. One reason we've never seen such a tall sprinter is that athletes who combine height and coordination usually go out for more glamorous, high-paying sports. Usain Bolt would make a sensational wide receiver or a great rebounding forward. In the United States, at least, a lot of guys started running track because they got cut from teams with cheerleaders. But Jamaicans regard sprinters the way the French regard wine: as a leading export, and a source of national identity."

Taking Sprinting to New Height
by Edward McClelland
http://www.slate.com/id/2225866/

Endowment Wars

Just goes to show that human nature is not a friend to stock portfolios...

College Try: Chicago Stock Sale
by Craig Karmin
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125081008475047855.html#mod=todays_us_money_and_investing

Quotes of the Week: Profits & Wealth

"I love the smell of profits in the morning."

-TechTicker

"Someday I want to be rich. Some people get so rich they lose all respect for humanity. That's how rich I want to be."

-Rita Rudner

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

-Warren Buffet

"Success in investing doesn't correlate with I.Q. once you're above the level of 25. Once you have ordinary intelligence, what you need is the temperament to control the urges that get other people into trouble in investing."

-Warren Buffet

Graph: Dow P/E Ratio Since 1929

Excellent graph and analysis...

"Bottom line: In my view, stock market value is driven primarily by earnings and dividends. However, based on about 100 years of stock market history, it looks like stock market prices are driven by the earnings multiples -- i.e. p/e ratios."

http://observationsandnotes.blogspot.com/2009/03/dow-price-to-earnings-ratios-since-1929.html

*On Normalized P/E Ratios
http://observationsandnotes.blogspot.com/2009/06/about-normalized-earnings-and-pe-ratios.html#links

Quote of the Week: Relationships

"My life-defining relationship wasn't with a parent, a sibling, a teacher, a mate. It was with my stomach."

-NY Times food critic Frank Bruni is his new book Born Round

Brits Take Over Turks & Caicos?

Very interesting look at overseas territories...

The Brits Have Taken Over Turks & Caicos. Is Canada Next?
by Brian Palmer
http://www.slate.com/id/2225616/

Life's Unanswered Questions

What are life's most important unanswered questions. Do we now have more or less of them?

Does Unconditional Love Exist?

Here is one perspective using an economic/business angle to examine the question...

http://socyberty.com/relationships/unconditional-love/

*15 Different Types of Love:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2473-NY-Love-Examiner~y2009m3d4-15-Different-Types-of-Love

Thought of the Day: Blogging

Does a blog have a shelf-life? Can it be possible to talk about every interesting thing in the world and then get bored of writing new things? If all the world can be broken down into a few key truisms, perhaps that may be the case...

100 Most Powerful Women - 2009

The biggest suprise to me is Oprah (Ranked #41) is below Michelle Obama (#40). Certainly, Oprah is more influential in selling products and promoting things (i.e., Barack Obama) then Michelle is...

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/11/power-women-09_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank.html

The Santa Margherita Syndrome

"Never order Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. We don’t mean to pick on Santa Margherita. We know many people like it and that’s fine. But because so many people like it, it is routinely one of the most outrageously priced wines on the list...We note it here only as a classic example of this: If you stay within your comfort zone, ordering only wines you already know, you will be punished for it, price-wise. In addition, no wine is going to seem like a good value to you when you know you could buy it at a local store for half the price or less. That’s why it’s so important to focus on labels or kinds of wines that you wouldn’t otherwise see. … Remember: There is value in tasting something new."

http://wine-econ.org/2009/04/12/the-santa-margherita-syndrome.aspx

What is a Reasonable Markup on Wine?

It seems to me that the more image-conscious a place is, the more they are able (and willing) to markup on beverages and food. For instance, take a fancy lounge or a rooftop bar that charges $12 for a mojito. If the cost to make one is $2, the markup would be 600%. But you very well can get a mojito at a more "normal" place for $6 or $7, a markup of "only" some 300%. Either way, restaurants/bars likely markup to the extent that they do because they can. As long as people come in and pay, prices do not have to drop. Also, these days, there is almost an expectation at many places that you will be paying a certain (often high) amount for drinks, and thus, the buyer has become numb to high prices.

*Several readers on this post suggests that a wine markup of more than 200% above retail is unreasonable...
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/539517

*An interesting fact...

"In general, a food's restaurant price is about three times its wholesale cost - a 300 percent markup."

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/restaurant-markups.htm

*More on markups for movie popcorn, coffee, and pre-cut fruit and veggies...
http://cbs3.com/yourmoneyteam/retail.rip.offs.2.971469.html

*This person notes the old rule of thumb at restaurants is to choose a wine in the middle of the price range. The thinking is that premium wines have a lower percentage markup as opposed to cheap wines which are generally heavily marked up.
http://www.wineweb.com/fusetalk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=21&threadid=459

*Freakonomics on wine markups...
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/question-of-the-day-whats-up-with-restaurant-wine-prices/

Rare & Unique Lobsters

http://scienceray.com/biology/marine-biology/distinctly-rare-and-unique-lobsters/

10 Ways to Be Liked in Your Job Interview

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-10_ways_to_be_liked_in_your_job_interview-947

Home Prices: Assessed Value vs. Market Value

I've been wondering if there is a general formula or rule one can use to determine the market value via the assessed value. I haven't found one yet...

http://www.mkemortgage.net/content/assessed_value_vs_market_value.htm

From a 2006 Boston Globe article...

"In a stable market, a property's assessed value can provide a useful estimate of the home's market value to buyers and sellers. But for the past five years, most homes sold well above their assessed values because prices were rising faster than assessments, which typically are at least a year old. In today's declining market, some homes are now selling for less than the assessed value in stable communities like Newton..."

Priced Below Assessment
by Kimberly Blanton
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/09/07/priced_below_assessment/

Crayfish Poaching

"Prompted by high crayfish prices and the rising popularity of the invertebrates, thieves have a growing incentive to pilfer crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, crawdaddies and mudbugs."

Crayfish Poaching Has Fisherman Boiling, But Thieves Are Hard to Trap
by Justin Scheck
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125064074756441757.html#mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one

Cutting Your Driving Death Risk

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/006457.html

How to Marry Well, Using Probability

http://www.geekpress.com/2009/08/nice-overview-of-mathematics-of.html

13 Things a Burglar Won't Tell You

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/13-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156709.html

Moving Graph: US Population 1950-2050

Watch the graph as it moves:

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/08/us-population-distribution-by-age-1950.html

Mate Poaching

"Single women showed a distinct preference for mate poaching. When the man was described as unattached, 59 percent of the single women were interested in pursuing him. When that same man was described as being in a committed relationship, 90 percent were interested."

Do Single Women Seek Attached Men?
by John Tierney
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/do-single-women-seek-attached-men/?ex=1266120000&en=115da28d39d05e6b&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=NYT-E-I-NYT-E-AT-0819-L7

"Master of Wine" Diploma

"Master of Wine (MW) is a qualification (not an academic degree) which has existed since 1953 and is conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), which was founded in 1955 and is based in the United Kingdom."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Wine

*The Institute of Masters of Wine
http://www.mastersofwine.org/

*The 2009 syllabus for The Institute of Masters of Wine
http://www.mastersofwine.org/filemanager/root/site_assets/documents/exam/syllabi/syllabus_2009.pdf

Question of the Day: Work

Should we work to live or live to work?

Foreign Agent Lobbying

Top-spending countries in 2008:

1. UAE
2. UK
3. Japan
4. Turkey
5. Iraq
6. Morocco
7. Saudi Arabia
8. South Korea
9. Netherlands
10. Equatorial Guinea

http://www.propublica.org/feature/adding-it-up-the-top-players-in-foreign-agent-lobbying-718

*The new Foreign Lobbying Influence Tracker
http://www.foreignlobbying.org/

Understanding Financial Statements

Learn the difference between balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/begfinstmtguide.htm

Search: Best Places to Retire

Plug in what you like and see where you should retire to...

http://www.usnews.com/business/best-places/to-retire/listing/search/

World's Largest Cupcake

"A 1,224-pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting has set a record as the world's largest. The colossal cupcake took 12 hours to bake and included 800 eggs and 200 pounds each of sugar and flour. It clocked in at an estimated 2 million calories."

http://wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=1720808

75 Things You Need to Know About the Class of 2013

I don't know if you *need* to know these things but some are pretty interesting...

http://wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=1742451

To Decant or Not

*Decanting appears to be a very controversial topic...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decanter

*On how to decant wine...
http://www.wineintro.com/basics/decanting.html

*New York Magazine on decanting...
http://nymag.com/restaurants/articles/wine/essentials/decanting.htm

*WSJ's Dorthy Gaiter and John Brecher weigh in...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703298004574455143624100598.html

Wine Bottle Sizes

You've probably heard of a magnum, jeroboam, and maybe even a nebuchadnezzar, but how about a melchior (24 bottles), a solomon (26 and 2/3 bottles), and the largest - a melchizedek (40 bottles!).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_bottle

You Don't Know What Wine Your Drinking

http://www.eatwashington.com/article/chew_on_this_you_don_t_know_what_wine_you_re_drinking/

On spotting fake wine:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/fakes.lml

Slate on counterfeit wine:
http://www.slate.com/id/2173361/

Great video on fake wine:
http://grazzac.blogspot.com/2007/08/awesome-video-about-fake-wine.html

On Boobs

"From the Dawn of Time, boobs have been shaping history - destroying careers, crippling world powers. Many men have been nearly destroyed by these orbs of power."

http://www.cracked.com/funny-212-boobs/

Best Peach on Earth

"This little town, a 90-minute train ride west of Shanghai, is a world away from Georgia. There's no Peachtree Street, no peach pie, no peach ice cream. About all Yangshan has are the juiciest, most delicious peaches on earth. In 10,000 orchards, ranging from the backyards of homes to substantial farms, Yangshan's trees are now groaning with a bumper crop of shui mi tao, "water honey peaches. Big, soft and white-fleshed, they must be tasted to be believed; in this peach lover's estimation, nothing from Georgia or California comes close. They are best eaten over a sink, to avoid showering the floor with peach juice."

The Best Peach on Earth
by Stan Sesser
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970203946904574300192082040918.html#mod=todays_us_weekend_journal

Roadtrip of the Week: Looking for Wright

"In a life that stretched from the Civil War to the Space Age, Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings of every size and function, from New York to Hollywood and back again. Tracking his seven-decade career, which utterly changed American architecture, could fill a lifetime of vacations. But a 300-mile road trip through the upper Midwest can give travelers a distilled impression of the work and the man."

Looking for Mr. Wright
by J.S. Marcus
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574320730800550134.html#mod=todays_us_weekend_journal

Lobster Wars

So if a 1.25 pound lobster is selling for $18.99 at your local restaurant, there is around a 600% markup on the lobster. Who gets that profit? Does it all go to the restaurant and the middle-man? Seems like a pretty high markup. Is there a false lobster bubble?

"Maine lobstermen are cutting competitors' trap lines, sinking boats and, in one case, shooting each other... They've always said that lobster follows the stock market, because people treat themselves to lobster meals when they're feeling prosperous. Lobstermen are getting paid around $2.50 a pound for soft-shell lobster this summer. Just two years ago, the average price was $4.43."

With Lobster Prices Low, Things Get Ugly in Maine
by Simmi Aujla
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125029228857633393.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

On Being a Protégé

I question whether a mentor is necessary in the first place, but if you do want a mentor, seeking out multiple ones might be the key...

"Instead of looking to one person as a guide, a would-be protégé should build up a team of mentors drawn from all areas of his or her professional and personal lives. That way, you don't have to rely too heavily on one person to give you all the guidance you need. And you get a broader range of advice and information."

How to Be a Smart Protége
by Dawn Chandler, Douglas Hall, and Kathy Kram
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203937504574252141852898888.html#mod=todays_us_

What You Won't Give Up In a Recession

Some things that I could potentially give up but don't want to: Newspaper/magazine subscriptions, TV/cell phone/Internet service, dining out, and car.

Take That, Recession
by Emily Bazelon
http://www.slate.com/id/2225287/

Is the Brain Hard-Wired to Love Google?

"Seeking is the granddaddy of the systems. It is the mammalian motivational engine that each day gets us out of the bed, or den, or hole to venture forth into the world. It's why, as animal scientist Temple Grandin writes in Animals Make Us Human, experiments show that animals in captivity would prefer to have to search for their food than to have it delivered to them. For humans, this desire to search is not just about fulfilling our physical needs. Panksepp says that humans can get just as excited about abstract rewards as tangible ones. He says that when we get thrilled about the world of ideas, about making intellectual connections, about divining meaning, it is the seeking circuits that are firing."

Seeking
by Emily Yoffe
http://www.slate.com/id/2224932/

Pitchpoling

Pitchpoling is said to be the most dangerous form of capsizing a boat can experience...

"When a boat is thrown stern over bows into an inverted position, she is said to have pitchpoled. Pitchpoling is the most dangerous way a boat can capsize because of the forces involved and the chances of heavy objects being hurled around at great force on deck and down below. Pitchpoling is rare, but it usually occurs when a boat is running before winds of gale force or more in heavy seas, and when— after running down the face of a wave at high speed—she buries her bows in the back of the wave ahead."

*Video of a Hobie pitchpoling (nasty)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9LFsyoUDDQ

Concept of the Day: Factoring

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factoring_(finance)

Fail Blog

Provides hours of laughs... also check out the "More Lolz" bar at the top for additional laughs...

http://failblog.org/

On Sailboat Design & Capsizing

"No matter how big a sinusoidal wave is, it should not capsize a boat. A breaking wave is a different story, these waves have a slope of 70 degrees and if higher than a boat is long, the boat cannot go over them. An extreme breaking wave hitting the boat's stern or bow may cause it to tumble over end on end (pitchpole or pitchpoling). If a breaking wave hits the boat on the beam, it can more easily broach or capsize the boat. Thus, one of the most important factors in surviving high waves is the length of the boat."

http://www.sailingusa.info/design_winds.htm

*Practical Nautical Forumulas
http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/Formulas.htm

Video: Global Air Circulation

Where does air/water pollution travel to? Where is it easiest/hardest to sail? Which direction does wind usually blow?

Excellent video...
http://trc.ucdavis.edu/biosci10v/bis10v/media/ch31/global_circ_v2.html

US "jet stream" map...
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Wind/JetStream.aspx

On global air circulation
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7p.html

Cool world map of air circulation...
http://hercules.gcsu.edu/~sdatta/home/teaching/hydro/slides/global_surface_currents.gif

Trade winds map
http://www.uwsp.edu/gEo/faculty/lemke/geog101/images/06a_global_winds_map.gif

The North Pacific Gyre

"In t­he broad expanse of the northern Pacific Ocean, there exists the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents. The area is an oceanic desert, filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen and­ s­ailors rarely travel through the gyre. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It's the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch.htm

*Map of the Gyre
http://ruralaspirations.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/currents.gif

*Video about the Gyre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUjTHB1lvM

Financial Crisis

"According to an analysis of 14 financial crises around the world by economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, the unemployment rates rises an average of seven percentage points in a downturn, and the crisis lasts an average of 4.8 years."

The Signs Don't Point To a Typical Recovery
by Neil Irwin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/16/AR2009081602249.html

Circular Bookshelf

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANr40n1mli-1OgxKmUgqI4TY7vGtRpDoK3-kFMJ7rVe6mL7XboPxvXqkyTdN1dO33Iv7I12gd3Y7kZMU6_1gucn3DtlaMiLgM8mS_hgujqB56Wy1XNyl2NfI64kiX02-A1vy87buuuGI/s400/circular+bookshelf.jpg

Sexy Bookshelf

From designer Arunkumar Francis...

http://www.furniturestoreblog.com/2009/08/16/designer_arunkumar_francis_is_no.html

Most US Money Laced With Cocaine

Now I know why they tell you to wash your hands after dealing with money...

"Traces of cocaine taint up to 90 percent of paper money in the United States, a new study finds. U.S. and Canadian currency had the highest levels, with an average contamination rate of between 85 and 90 percent, while Chinese and Japanese currency had the lowest, between 12 and 20 percent contamination."

Most US Money Laced With Cocaine
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090817/sc_livescience/mostusmoneylacedwithcocaine

Court Case of the Year: Boating Accident

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/justice.asp

Low Stress Jobs

I don't agree with this list but I like the idea of "low stress" jobs...

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-1133-Job-Search-25-Low-Stress-Jobs/?ArticleID=1133&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=4db4f656c27e476698c2a873a61a413e-303569340-wn-6&ns_siteid=ns_us_g_low_stress_jobs

Here is another list of the 25 best-paying, low stress jobs...
http://www.jist.com/shop/web/best-jobs-lists/25-best-paying-low-stress-jobs

Credit Card Glossary

My favorite term = titanium card.

http://www.naturemagics.com/finance/credit-card-glossary.shtm

*Also, there will be a new sapphire card launched by Chase...
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92924?fp=1

Map: Hours Per Week Working Around the World

South Korea and Greece (!?) appear to be the only true outliers...

http://www.billshrink.com/blog/working-around-the-world/

Chart: How Men & Women Argue

http://www.maxim.com/humor/stupid-fun/83602/how-men-women-argue.html

Can Someone Be Too Old For Jail?

Don't feel like going after an older criminal is useless...

"In practice, the elderly are rarely let off the hook in the US."

Oldies But Baddies
by Christopher Beam
http://www.slate.com/id/2224861/

Artwork of the Week: "Lightning Field"

For for astraphobiacs...

"Only six people are allowed to see it every day, and only for six months of the year. It's thousands of miles from the big art scenes on either coast, and hours from the nearest city. Photos are not allowed, so it barely even circulates in pictures. There's even a tiny chance that, if you don't follow instructions, it could help you wind up dead. And yet, for many of the few who've made the pilgrimage, it turns out to be one of the great works of art of the last century."

Shocks & Awe
by Blake Gopnik
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203304.html

Speed Reading

http://derrenbrownart.com/blog/2009/08/scientific-speed-reading-read-300-faster-20-minutes/

Economics of the Secret Chinese Menu

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/08/the-economics-of-the-secret-chinese-menu.html

Bed of the Week: Bullet-Proof Safe Bed

With its own toilet, air supply, and microwave oven...

http://www.switched.com/2008/03/28/safe-bed-resists-natural-disasters-terrorist-attacks-while-yo/

Understanding Trusts

http://www.jud.ct.gov/probate/understandingtrusts.pdf

Moët & Chandon on Toasting

Learn how to toast correctly. By the way, this guy has a cool-sounding job...

"As the chef de cave of Moët & Chandon, he has managed the creation of all the maker's Champagnes for the past 11 years. Mr. Benoit Gouez travels the world as an ambassador presenting Moët Champagne to wine collectors, retailers, sommelier and celebrities at events. On a busy day, he might lead as many as a dozen toasts."

Hints on Not Getting Burned on Your Next Champagne Toast
by Teri Agins
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574318952053145952.html#mod=todays_us_personal_journal

Fish by Mail?

No, not the Rahm Emanuel type...

Fish by Mail: Worth the Clams?
by Charles Passy
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970203496804574346393250601998.html#mod=todays_us_personal_journal

Sugar Wars

"Some of America's biggest food companies say the U.S. could 'virtually run out of sugar' if the Obama administration doesn't ease import restrictions amid soaring prices for the key commodity...This is the latest salvo fired in a long-simmering dispute between U.S. food companies and the sugar industry over federal policy that artificially inflates the domestic price of U.S.-produced sugar in order to support the incomes of politically savvy sugar-beet farmers on the Northern Plains and cane-sugar farmers in the South. Most years, the price food companies pay for U.S. sugar is twice the world level."

Food Firms Warn of Sugar Shortage
by Scott Kilman, Carolyn Cui, and Ilan Brat
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125011957488227095.html#mod=todays_us_page_one

The Best Documentation of an El Bulli Experience?

http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2009/08/dinner_at_el_bu.html

Yiddish Handbook - 40 Words You Should Know

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-yiddish-handbook-40-words-you-should-know/

Water/Riparian/Maritime/Admiralty Law

Who has the right to buoys or crab/lobster floats that become unmoored? Where is it illegal to anchor? What beaches am I not allowed to access? Do I have the right to keep flotsam/jetsam? Can someone be held responsible for marine debris that cause accidents? Can I metal detect in the water/beach? Can I dig in the sand even if I start "harming" the beach?

Laws Inside an Embassy

I am very interested in laws within an embassy. For instance, if you commit a crime within a foreign embassy abroad, which countries laws are you subject to? Could the embassy detain you without calling the local authorities? What if you commit a crime within an "interest section?"

Perhaps some cases can be found at http://embassylaw.com/

Hint of the Week: Dented Cans

Q: Can you address the safety of using food from dented cans? I was taught to never use them, but my friend does all the time and says as long as it isn't bulged, it's okay. Who is right?

A: Remember the old adage "When in doubt, throw it out"? That is the mantra you should follow. According to the USDA food safety department, you should not eat food from cans that are leaking, bulging, rusting, or badly dented. Even a tiny puncture can allow baccteria to contaminate the contents. P.S.: Don't buy dented cans! But, if you drop it on the floor at home and dent it, it's okay to open and eat right then.

Hints From Heloise; August 11, 2009

Concept of the Day: Veblen Goods

In economics, Veblen goods are a theoretical group of commodities for which peoples' preference for buying them increases as a direct function of their price, instead of decreasing according to the law of demand.

Which veblen goods do you own?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

Bandwagon Effect

What percent of people's actions are related to this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect

Map Generator: How Many States/Countries Visited

Generate a map and see what places you need to visit...a good way to see what regions you have neglected...

http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=world

also
http://www.travelblog.org/VC/visited-countries.html

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Try these 20 questions to see if you could pass...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13442226/

Saline Pool vs. Chlorine Pool

Versus Saline Pools
by Julie Deardorff
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/feb/05/health/chi-0129-saline-poolsfeb05

also...

"A 2003 study sponsored by trhe National Association of Realtors showed pools adding 5 to 10 percent to the volue of a home in the Southeast, which includes the Washington area."

The Economics of Taking a Dip
by Jonathan Starkey
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081304014.html

What Sports You Play = How Much You Earn

"The average household income of a snorkeler last year was $92,373, highest among 93 sports tracked, according an online survey of more than 41,000 people by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, a trade group of sports retailers and marketers. In fact, recreational athletes who like the water are better off than any group the SGMA surveyed, with an average household income of $84,074."

Snorkelers Top Triathletes in Earnings
by David Biderman
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124985970523518025.html#mod=todays_us_marketplace

Ranking Colleges Based on Alumni Salary

"Payscale.com's 2009 College Salary Report uses data supplied by 1.2 million visitors who came to the site and plugged in all sorts of info to find out whether their salaries were in line with those of people doing the same kind of work in their geographic area. Payscale's college ranking, in its second year, is drawing fire for its methodology..."

$chool Ranking$
by Rebecca Kaplan
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1914994,00.html

Infographic: How Many Nukes Are Needed to Destroy Humanity?

More than I expected...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25541021@N00/3790865581/sizes/o/

Why are Georgia and Georgia both Named Georgia?

"Both got their present-day monikers from the British."

Why Are Georgia and Georgia Both Named Georgia
by Noreen Malone
http://www.slate.com/id/2224722/

Word of the Week: Precycling

Definition: Reducing waste by limiting consumption.

Most Expensive Refrigerator

Find a sampling of some of the most expensive items on the market today, including Northland's $10,000+ refrigerator...( I imagine that industrial/commercial-strenghth/size fridges are more expensive...)

http://most-expensive.net/page/4

Northalnd Kitchen Appliances
http://www.northlandnka.com/

Japan's Brothel Indicator

Will this really help gauge service demand or is this an excuse to visit sex shops?

"The Bank of Japan is counting brothels in Hokkaido to help determine demand for services as the country battles its deepest post-War recession. The survey of sex shops and restaurants was designed to better gauge demand for services, an area of the economy that’s becoming more important as exports slump."

Sex Shops Inform Bank of Japan View of Service Demand
by Toru Fujioka & Jason Clenfield
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a.nelfm4k34Q

Learning English

I wonder if this is true for most other languages...

Q: When a non-English-speaking adult moves to the US, about how many words must he or she learn in order to be able to communicate adequately?

A: According to educations, a vocabulary of 500 words is enough for limited communication of wishes and needs. Basic conversation requires about 1,000 words plus some knowledge of verb tenses.

-August 8, 2009 Parade Magazine

Sentence of the Week: Economics

I think more social anthropologists should be explaining economics.

"She brings an unusual credential to financial journalism: a PhD in social anthropology. Anthropologists look for holistic descriptions of human cultures that link different parts of a social structure. She has done that by illuminating a basic truth: Apart from natural disasters, the great events that alter human history are, however complicated, the work of human beings. In the end, economic forces, the tides of history and such are just manifestations of human foibles, often encouraged by dysfunctional cultures such as the one on Wall Street."

Meet the Geniuses Who Lost Our Money
by Robert Kaiser
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080701894.html

Spending Your Retirement Savings

What is the best way to spend your retirement savings. Should you live only on the interest?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Spending-Your-Retirement-Savings---How-Much-Can-You-Spend?&id=1645241

and
https://personal.vanguard.com/us/VanguardViewsArticlePublic?ArticleJSP=/freshness/News_and_Views/news_ALL_withdrawing_09172008_ALL.jsp

and
http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/retirement/how-to-spend-your-retirement-savings-21840/

Art Collecting Tips

"Remember that if the art speaks to you in some way, makes you happy thinking about it, you know you have a homerun. How do you find that kind of art? Look for artwork that reflects the artist’s life experiences; they are often themes that affect the viewer emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Financial gain should never be the primary goal of collecting art."

https://residentassociates.org/ArtCollectors/collecting.aspx

More more collecting tips:
http://art-collecting.com/article1.htm

Font of the Week: Chinese Restaurant Font

I'd like to know the history of the font...

Chinoiseries!
http://www.fontmenu.com/site/_Chinoiseries.html

Dictionary.com definition
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chinoiseries

Banning August

"August is the Mississippi of the calendar. It's beastly hot and muggy. It has a dismal history. Nothing good ever happens in it. And the United States would be better off without it. Here is a framework for compromise. Cede the first 10 days of August back to July, thus extending holiday revelry for more than a week. September would claim the last 10 days of August, mollifying the folks who can't wait to get back to serious work. Labor Day would come 10 days earlier, the school year would run longer, and the rush of fall activity could get jump-started. August itself will keep 10 days."

August
by David Plotz
http://www.slate.com/id/2224073/

The End of War?

"Of course, all human behavior ultimately stems from our biology. But the sudden emergence of war around 10,000 BCE and its recent decline suggest it's primarily a cultural phenomenon and one that culture is now helping us to overcome. There have been no international wars since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and no wars between major industrialized powers since the end of World War II. Most conflicts now consist of guerilla wars, insurgencies, and terrorism—or what the political scientist John Mueller of Ohio State University calls the remnants of war... At least part of the decline, he says, can be attributed to a surge in the number of democracies since World War II, from 20 to nearly 100 (depending on how democracy is defined). Since democracies rarely, if ever, wage war against each other, we may well see a continuing decline in the magnitude of armed conflict."

Steven Pinker identifies several other cultural factors contributing to the modern decline of violence, both between and within states:

1. The creation of stable states with effective legal systems and police forces has eliminated the endless feuding that plagued many tribal societies.

2. Increased life expectancies make us less willing to risk our lives by engaging in violence.

3. As a result of globalization and communications, we have become increasingly interdependent on—and empathetic toward—others outside of our immediate "tribes."

Does Peace Have a Chance?
by John Horgan
http://www.slate.com/id/2224275/

The Death of CNBC?

Basically, people like to watch exciting things and the markets tanking is exciting. Now that things appear to be stabilizing, CNBC is not as exciting to watch for many...

"Just as most people don't buy Playboy to read the articles, most people don't watch CNBC to listen to analysis. In fact, in many places—corporate offices, health clubs, bars, trading floors—the volume is generally muted. People keep CNBC on to see what stocks and bonds are doing and to see whether there's any news—especially to see whether there's any bad news. Standard business news such as quarterly earnings reports and Federal Reserve testimony isn't particularly exciting. CNBC gets its best ratings when the markets are tanking."

Why You've Stopped Watching CNBC
by Daniel Gross
http://www.slate.com/id/2224257/

Traveling to North Korea

"If Bill Clinton can visit North Korea, does that mean I can, too? Yes. If you're feeling adventurous and wish to visit beautiful Pyongyang, the U.S. State Department recommends getting a visa through North Korea's U.N. representative. But it's far easier to travel with an approved tour company, like Asia Pacific Travel (the only American company officially sanctioned by the North Korean government) or the British company Koryo Tours."

Dear Trip Leader
by Christopher Beam
http://www.slate.com/id/2224346/

How is America Going to End?

Click the link and then begin clicking around to find a whole series on America's end...

"In the American end times, our government will take one of two forms. One possibility is that federalism will give way to an all-powerful central government. The other option is decentralization—in the absence of a unifying national interest, the United States of America will fragment and be supplanted by regional governance."

How is America Going to End?
by Josh Levin
http://www.slate.com/id/2224104/

Chose Your Own Apocolypse
http://sdn.slate.com/features/endofamerica/default.htm

Are Organic Veggies Better for You?

"Last week the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency published an extensive report on organic food that concluded with this bombshell: "There is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs."

Are Organic Veggies Better for You?
by James McWilliams
http://www.slate.com/id/2224342/

Falacies of the Physics of a Coin Toss

"Coin tosses are a classic metaphor in econoics for randomness yet research into coin flips has discovered that the laws of mechanics determine the outcome of coin tosses: The startling finding is that they aren't random. Instead, for natural flips, the chance of a coin landing in the same position as it started is about 51 percent...the outcome of flips is not reandom. The reason real flips are less certain isn't just that the force can vary, it's that coins flipped manually tend to rotate around several axes at once...the dynamics of the coin flip, and its outcome, are determined not by the lack of balance in the coin but instead by the physics of spinning and flipping."

A Reliable Randomizer, Turned on Its Head
by David Adler
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073104170.html

*Heads You Win, Tails...You Win. You Can Beat the Toss of a Coin and Here's How
by Victoria Moore
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1239823/Heads-win-tails--win-You-beat-toss-coin-heres-.html?ITO=1490

Hand Reflexology Charts

I wonder how much various hand/foot reflexology charts differ...It appears quite a lot...

Here is one:
http://www.thereikimaster.com/images/handreflex.gif

And another:
http://selfhelpreflexology.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/newhands.jpg

Personal Umbrella Holders

I wonder what other responsibilities most personal umbrella holders have and I wonder how much they get paid. I also wonder what type of umbrellas are used. Also, I wonder the history behind the job - who was the first personal umbrella holder?

"You know you've made it in Hollywood (or musicland) when you have a personal umbrella holder...I wonder how you find someone to be your personal umbrella holder. Or is it somebody already on your staff? Then how do you ask that person to be your personal umbrella holder? Hey, do you mind getting wet while holding my umbrella so I can stay dry?"

http://celebritystyle.about.com/b/2008/12/14/personal-umbrella-holders.htm

Learning How to Text

Quick! Tell Us What KUTGW Means
by Stephanie Rapaso
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574328920789548170.html?mod=yhoofront

How Netflix Sends Movies So Fast

"Six nights a week, a truck leaves for the post office and picks up cartons full of these return-address envelopes; pickup is at 3 a.m. (It's also the reason that the time of day you mail your DVD back has no effect on when you receive your next one.) "

How Netflix Gets Your Movies to Your Mailbox so Fast
by Christopher Borrelli
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0804-netflixaug04,0,6424990.story

Map: Spread of the Amish

http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2009/07/spread-of-the-amish.html

The "Shadow Fed"

The hardest invitation to get?

"At the end of next week, Peter Demirali and John Mousseau will join us at another sweet spot, in the village of Grand Lake Stream, Maine at Leen’s Lodge for the annual Shadow Fed fishing retreat (nicknamed Camp Kotok by Becky Quick). CNBC will be broadcasting live on Friday, August 7, starting very early in the morning and running for much of the day. We are 34 attendees, plus Steve Liesman, Matt Greco (a Squawk Box producer), and the CNBC crew. The attendees are by invitation only and have traveled from as far east as Abu Dhabi to as far west as Vancouver and Newport Beach and from as far south as Dallas. We have booked the entire camp and will be testing its capacity."

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/07/being-in-the-sweet-spot-twice/

Are the French Abandoning Topless Sunbathing?

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/07/when-to-stop-reading-a-book.html

When to Stop Reading a Book

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/07/when-to-stop-reading-a-book.html

Why are Manhole Covers Round?

http://scienceblogs.com/effectmeasure/2009/08/the_shape_of_man_hole_covers_r.php

Map: Life Expectancy in the US by Region

http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2009/07/dont-blame-canada.php

Which Vacation Model is Best?

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2009/08/which-vacation-model-is-best.html

Educational Opportunity of the Week: Wine

University of California-Davis has one of the best wine programs in the world...

http://wineserver.ucdavis.edu/

How Many Wineries in Your State?

Here is the 2007 count...

http://www.wine-road.com/education/articles/state-winery-rankings.php

100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About

100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About
by Nathan Barry
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/07/100-things-your-kids-may-never-know-about?npu=1&mbid=yhp

Iberico de Bellota

"D.C. based Wagshal's Market has become the only place in the country where you can purchase fresh Iberico de Bellota pork, chiefly the pork loin. While the cured stuff will run you close to $100 per pound, Wagshal's will retail the loin products for between $23.99 and $29.99 per pound, depending on the specific cut."

Andres, Wagshal's bring fresh Iberico de Bellota to U.S.
by Missy Frederick
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top_shelf/2009/07/andres_wagshals_bring_fresh_iberico_de_bellota_to_us.html?ana=e_du_pub

Cash for Clunkers Pollution Impact

Not great, but still a start...

"'Cash for clunkers' could have the same effect on global warming pollution as shutting down the entire country — every automobile, every factory, every power plant — for an hour per year. That could rise to three hours if the program is extended by Congress and remains as popular as it is now."

'Cash for Clunkers' Effect on Pollution? A Blip.
by Seth Borenstein
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090805/ap_on_sc/us_cash_for_clunkers_pollution

Cost of a Baby

Obvisouly, the number is quite deceptive, but you get the idea...At that rate, one baby costs $13,000/year. If a baby costs $500,000 to raise until 17, it would be about $30,000/year.

Middle-Income Family Spends $221,000 to Raise Baby
by Betsy Taylor
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090804/ap_on_re_us/us_fea_parenting_cost

Appetizers vs. Mains

Excerpt from a recent food discussion with Todd Kliman --

Vienna, VA: Hi Todd, I eat out a fair amount and I've noticed that the appetizers are always much more appealing and end up being much better tasting than the entrees. I've started to order 3 appetizers and one entree when i go out with my husband.Have you noticed this? Why do you think that is?

Todd Kliman: You're right. In fact, if I were paying my own way, I would do exactly as you do -- tilt the balance toward appetizers. They're generally more interesting and more rewarding.In fact, when I travel and I'm footing my own bill, that's what I generally do. Unless something really grabs me on the entrees list.Why do I think that is? Here's a thought ... Just as some writers are short story writers, others are novelists. The short story writers work best when they're working within strict parameters, when they have to rely on compression and really zero in on details. Novelists are novelists because they need to stretch out and weave strands and achieve their effects by layering and multiplication, etc.I think a lot of chefs are short story writers. Some chefs can do both stories and novels. But a lot of chefs tend to lose their way when they move from a smaller form to a larger form.

A/C Wars

"Women generally are far more sensitie to feelings of cold. Studies among several species of mammals hae shows the same results. Given a choice between two chambers on either side of their comfort range, males prefer one that is 'too cold' and females one that is 'too hot.' The difference in temperature preference between men and women is explained by several factors including women's lower ratio of body mass to surface area, lesser muscle mass and a slower resting metabolism. Further, women have a lower tolerance for cold than men."

Also, another interesting quote from the article:

"Happily married couples, the ones who make it all the way to the rocking chairs, argue pretty much nonstop about an average of 10 'irreconcilable differences,' said Diane Sollee, head of the Washington-based Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education."

A/C Setting Can Push Couples to Boiling Point
by Steve Hendrix
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/01/AR2009080101839.html

Labuan = Tax Haven Capital of the World?

"Last year 6,868 offshore companies from 85 countries registered in Labuan [Malaysia], up from 2,211 companies a decade ago. Labuan does not tax offshore holding companies, and it remains a struggle for nosy authorities from abraod to learn your business there. Push down hard on the likes of Switzerland and the Cayman Islands, and postboxes are likely to pop up in havens like Labuan."

Hot Haven
by Richard Morais
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0803/taxes-labuan-offshore-hot-tax-haven.html

How Do You End Your Email?

How do you sign off on your emails? Best? Sincerly? Cheers? Read some thoughts on closings with the following link...

'Best' For Last?
by Ruth McCann
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/02/AR2009080202073.html

Quote of the Week: Domain Sitting

"I own 906090.com, which represents the 'perfect' female form in Europe (36-24-36 in America). You can appreciate its potential."

-Amir M. (From August 2009 issue of Maxim Magazine)

Quote of the Day: Female Dress

"She was dressed to make men panic."

-Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins referring to wife on the first day they met

Marketing Fish

"Some of the worst-hit (i.e., overfished) were fish that have been renamed to make them more marketable. For threatened animals on land, a more attractive name might be a blessing. But for these creatures - slimeheads, goosefish, rock crabs, Patagonian toothfish, whore's eggs - it was a curse."

Popular examples include:

*Patagonian toothfish (i.e., Chilean sea bass)
*Goosefish (i.e., Monkfish)
*Slimehead (i.e, Orange roughy)
*Rock crab (i.e., Peekytoe crab)

Tastier Names Trouble for Seafood Stocks
by David Fahrenthold
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/30/AR2009073002478.html

On Crabmeat

"The local Jerry's Seafood chain stopped using Chesapeake Bay crabmeat years ago in favor of a more reliable source of blue crabmeat from Venezuela. Chefs I spoke with generally preferred domestic crab, which comes from the Gulf, the Carolines and, of course, the Chesapeake Bay. But all agreed that Venezuelan crab is a good product...The crabs are larger than their domestic counterparts and provide great chunks of meat. Venezuelan crab also arrives fresh by air. Most crab from the Philippines and Indonesia is pasteurized and shipped by boat...Indeed, some diners find they prefer imported crabmeat. As soon as I started serving local crabmeat, people started sending it back, saying this tastes fishy...I think for the least 15 years, alost every crab cake you've had in every restaurant has been Southeast Asian crabmeat. It's washed and bleached. That takes away a lot of the flavor."

The Lump Sum
by Jane Black
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/28/AR2009072800394.html

Do You Like Your Food?

I would probably just say "it's fine." The word satisfactory sounds too proper and negative...

Q: My wife and I frequently eat at restaurants. It is common for waiters - or even the manager - to ask during or after the meal whether we like the food. Sometimes, when the food is not good, I say so. What usually follows is an overblown show of concern that I find disingenuous and unproductive. Eager to avoid this sort of scene, I often lie and say "everything is fine," even when it isn't. This works well, but my wife and I are expecting our first daughter soon, and I don't like the idea of casually lying in front of her once she is old enough to understand. What is a polite, truthful way of answering the question of "How do you like the food?" without instigating an overblown response?

A: "It is satisfactory, thank you." Presumably this is truthful, because you are eating the food, and if it were unsatisfactory, you should have sent it back. Such a tepid comment will expose the question for what it is - brazen fishing for compliments.

-From WPost's Miss Manners (July 29, 2009)

The Death of SATs and GREs?

Probably not, but an interesting new test nonetheless...

"The Educational Testing Service (ETS) developed a tool to rate students across a braod sweep of traits - creativity, teamwork, integrity - that admission tests don't measure. An applicants personality is distilled into six traits, and the applicant is rated on each of them by various professors and former supervisors on a scale of 1 to 5. The Personal Potential Index marks the first large-scale attempt to codify the elusive, subjective attributes that make up a successful grad student."

New Index Will Score Graduate Students' Personality Traits
by Daniel De Vise
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070902085.html

Fact of the Day: Portuguese

How many countries speak Portuguese? The answer is 10 (according to one source that needs to be verified). Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe.