Fugu Licenses To Become Obsolete?

Tokyo To Drop Fuge License Ordinance Amid Decline in Fatal Diner Poisonings
http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/95083.php

Graphing the Future of the Porn Industry

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-execs-in-the-adult-entertainment-biz-think-3d-and-web-tv-will-shape-the-future-2012-3#3d-porn-is-not-expected-to-be-big-1

The Stratfor Glossary of Useful, Baffling and Strange Intelligence Terms

This Stratfor document was uncovered by Wikileaks...
http://wikileaks.org/IMG/pdf/The_Stratfor_Glossary_of_Useful_Baffling_and_Strange_Intelligence_Terms.pdf

Does Your Body Clock Determine When You Get Sick?

"Immunity to infection, research suggests, varies with daily circadian rhythms."

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/really-the-claim-your-body-clock-can-determine-when-you-get-sick/?nl=health&emc=healthupdateemb3

Which Countries Were Never Colonized?

http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/02/unconquered-world.html

Are Rich People Unethical?

"Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley analyzed a person's rank in society (measured by wealth, occupational prestige and education) and found that those who were richer were more likely to cheat, lie and break the law than those who were poorer."

Are Rich People Unethical?
by Mikaela Conley
http://news.yahoo.com/rich-people-unethical-224915381--abc-news.html

Quote of the Day: Work

"There's no honest work that a man does that ain't noble."

-Jim Vance of New 4 quoting his grandfather

Question of the Day: Best Sport for Loners

What is the best sport for loners?  Kayaking?  Running? Biking? Sailing? Swimming? Windsuring?  Water sports in general

Golf's Biggest Delusions

Golf's Biggest Delusions
by John Paul Newport
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577241550813907764.html

Most Adulterous City

Guess which city has the most members on adultery dating website Ashley Madison...
http://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-city-cheating-ashley-madison-2012-2

Chart of the Day: A Breakdown of America's 131.8 Million Homes

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-quick-breakdown-of-americas-1318-million-homes-2012-2

Nomophobic

"Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.  The term, an abbreviation for 'no-mobile-phone phobia,' was coined during a study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organisation to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users. The study found that nearly 53 percent of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they "lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverag'"..The study found that about 58 percent of men and 48 percent of women suffer from the phobia, and an additional 9 percent feel stressed when their mobile phones are off."

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

Can Long Work Hours Cause Depression?

"Routinely working long hours is associated with a greater risk of depression, studies show."

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/really-the-claim-long-work-hours-can-cause-depression/?nl=health&emc=healthupdateemb3

Yahoo's Signal Predicts Obama Win

This is at least consistent with the online prediction markets...
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/signal/obama-poised-win-2012-election-303-electoral-votes-202543583.html

Simple Names = More Profitable

"Having an easy-to-pronounce name boosts one's chances of winning favor in the workplace, personal life and even political elections, according to new research...Attorneys with simpler surnames were more likely to hold a higher position at their firm, the findings showed...Adam Alter conducted a similar study in 2006 showing that copanies with pronounceable ticker symbols - such as RAD for Rite Aid Corp. - performed better in the stock market following an initial public offering."

Name Game: Simple Is Better, Study Says
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204642604577215372010543642.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Map: Where Americans Most Depend on Government Benefits

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/12/us/entitlement-map.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Plan B Vending Machines

Are we catching up with the Japanese on cool vending machines?

FDA Investigates Vending Machine for Morning-After Pills
by Dave Warner
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46327534/ns/health/

Top 10 Foreign Buyers of US Weapons

This list is apparently from a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report:

1. Saudi Arabia
2. UAE
3. Egypt
4. Taiwan
5. Australia
6. Iraq
7. Pakistan
8. UK
9. Turkey
10. South Korea

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2012/02/02/top-10-foreign-buyers-of-us-weapons.html

It contradicts a bit with this news clip:
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/dec/091211-India-is-third-largest-buyer-of-US-arms.htm

Here is a list of the top 10 weapons manufactuers (by company):
http://realitypod.com/2010/08/top-10-weapons-manufacturers/

Here is a list/map of the top 10 weapons exporting countries:
http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-weapons-exporting-map.html

Here is a list of the top 100 weapons-manufacturing companies
http://www.sipri.org/research/armaments/production/Top100

On Obsessive Business Card Collecting

When does business card collecting become obsessive?  Is it harmful?  (It's not like you're killing anyone...).  Is it a release?  Is it a drug?  Is collecting business cards for the sake of networking any "healtheir" than for any other sake?  Is it a survival technique?

"Since at least 1982, Mr. Ziegler has tracked down thousands of people whose last name is Smith and mailed them handwritten letters.  His simple request: Send back a business card.  He includes a self-addressed stamped envelope and has been suprised by the response.  Of the estimated 2,500 letters sent, he has received 1,014 cards from Smtihs in all 50 states and seven countries...Collecting business cards of people with particular names isn't completely unique, says American Business Card Club President James L. Thompson, owner of 2,800 cards of people and businesses named Thompson.  But Mr. Thompson - who recently boasted of about 5,500 cards from tattoo and piercing shops; 4,035 from Chinese restaurants; and 1,666 from microbreweries in Washington state - says he hasn't heard of any collectors who limit themselves to a single name."

Smitten by Smiths: Bob Ziegler Collects Cards of a Different Name
by Anton Troianovski
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577208961027241298.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

On Valentine's Day & Cheating Women

" AshleyMadison.com, a dating website for married people, sees a record number of female sign-ups after Valentine's Day founder and president Noel Biderman told Momlogic last year.  In fact, ten times more women sign up to the website on Feb. 15.  The second biggest day of the year for female sign-ups is the day after Mother's Day.  Biderman links increased female sign-up rates to a lack of appreciation felt after specific holidays."

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-13/news/31054226_1_vili-fualaau-mary-kay-letourneau-answer

On Why Teachers Have Sex With Their Students

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-13/news/31054226_1_vili-fualaau-mary-kay-letourneau-answer

The Seven Equations That Rule The World

Seven Equations That Rule Your World
by Ian Stewart
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328516.600-seven-equations-that-rule-your-world

Stealing a Glacier

Will this be a popular crime in the future?  As ice cubes become more "fancy," I can see how it would be easy to market glacial ice at fancy bars and restaurants...

"Police have arrested a man in Patagonia who was stealing a massive chunk of ice to sell as designer cubes for cocktails. How the hell do you steal a glacier, anyway?"

Man Arrested For Stealing a Glacier
http://gizmodo.com/5881552/man-arrested-for-stealing-a-glacier

Peak Everything - Why Things Are Costing More

On peaking and pricing...

*Peak Oil
*Peak Uranium
*Peak Population
*Peak Tuna
*Peak Water
*Peak Iron
*Peak Coffee
*Peak Coal
*Peak Food
*Peak Phosphorus
*Peak Spectrum
*Peak Rare Earths
*Peak Fracking

Peak Everything -- Why Everything Costs More
by Tom Randall and Eric Roston
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/in-demand.html

15 Ways Your Desk Job is Destoying Your Body

http://www.businessinsider.com/15-ways-your-desk-job-is-destroying-your-body-2012-2

On Introverts

It is important to distinguish between shy and introverted...

What if introverts ruled the world?  What is women ruled the world?

The Upside of Being an Introvert (And Why Extroverts Are Overrated)
by Bryan Walsh
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2105432,00.html

Chart: Three Decades of Panic & Euphoria

From Credit Suisse's Global Risk Appetite Index (GRAI):
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-beautiful-chart-showing-3-decades-worth-of-panic-and-euphoria-2012-2

Silicon Valley Top 100

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-silicon-valley-100-2012-1#100-jason-shellen-1

Hamamatsu Is the New Gyoza (Dumpling) Capital of the World

http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/94480.php

How Doctors Die

http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepublicsquare/2011/11/30/how-doctors-die/read/nexus/

Are We Stagnating Aesthetically?

http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2011/12/are-we-stagnating-aesthetically.html

How Much Do Top Chess Players Earn?

http://www.chess.com/article/view/making-money-in-chess

Why Aren't The Chinese Better at Soccer?

"The first problem is the method of identifying young talent. The sport system selects children with particular attributes, such as long limbs, which could pay off in athletics, rowing, swimming, diving or gymnastics. These youngsters are the genetic wheat. But football’s legends can emerge from the seeming chaff of human physiques: think of stocky Diego Maradona, perhaps the greatest ever player, or his Argentine successor, the tiny genius Lionel Messi...Then there is the matter of gold medals and opportunity costs. China pursues gold by funnelling athletes into obscure individual sports that can reap multiple medals in competitions. Football can only yield one medal or World Cup...But the contradictions and weaknesses of Chinese capitalism have also played a part in the country’s footballing ignominy."

http://www.economist.com/node/21541716

Map of the Day: Where US Terrorist Attacks Occur

http://www.businessinsider.com/map-of-the-day-hot-spots-of-terrorist-attacks-in-america-2012-2

On Fugu in Washington

"Only one known Washington-area restaurant currently serves fugu: Kaz Sushi Bistro in DC's Foggy Bottom.  Kazukhiro 'Kaz' Okochi orders the fish from Wako International Corp. in New York City, the only fugu importer approved by the Food and Drug Administration.  Only a select group of restaurnats are certified by Wako to buy the fish, and Wako lobbied for years to get approval; all of the company's fish comes from Shimonoseki, Japan...the fish doesn't come cheap: Okochi paid Wako $90 a pound for farm-raised fugu in 2011."

February 2012 Washingtonina