Thursday, December 30, 2010

Quantitative easing explained easily

Quantitative easing (QE) is a simple electronic method by which a government or central bank “prints more money” to support private banks. In short, another bank bailout.

The money is not actually physically printed at a mint or based on the value of gold or anything else; it is, believe it or not, created out of thin air and the value of it is established in a form of promissory notes, or bonds, which are available only through the banks who have, of course, received the quantitative easing.

The basic concept of quantitative easing is to increase the excess reserves of private banks. There is no other benefit to quantitative easing.

Keep in mind, at this time, that private banks in the West (U.S. and Europe) can borrow public money at 0% (zero percent) or close to it and lend it back (maybe) to the public at around 5% interest and up to 30% in some instances through credit multipliers. Thus private banks get money for nothing (no interest) AND get quantitative easing (which cost nothing to create) AND their success is guaranteed by the public, the latter known as public debt.

In simple terms

Imagine this: your acquaintance logs into his internet banking account, he wants more money, he changes his bank balance himself (something which you can’t do with your bank account). He transfers you an amount but asks for it back immediately. If you can not give him “his money” he sues the crap out of you and, God forbid, start foreclosure on your house. There, your acquaintance is a quantitative easer.

Quantitative easing debate

The practice of quantitative easing has raised a lot of debate – and not without reason. To date, quantitative easing has not stimulated any economy anywhere at any time in history, yet. It did, however, add significantly to bank profits. The Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi calls quantitative easing “The Hidden Government Subsidy for Banks.” Ellen Brown points out that “adding more reserves to a banking system that already has more reserves than it can use has no net effect on the money supply.” Robert Skidelsky says that “what matters is not printing money, but spending it.” David DeGraw feels that quantitative easing violates the rule of law.

As with all debates there are, obviously, two sides to the story. Quantitative easing does have support from some economists. But in general the public – the people who guarantee these funds – feel that the trillions of bailout dollars could be better spent elsewhere. And since you are the guarantor you surely should know what a trillion dollars look like. (Hint: just one trillion dollars in $1000 bills is 65 miles high, ala USA Watchdog. The bailouts total many trillions of dollars – nobody actually knows the precise amount.)

Quantitative easing explained easily

Still unsure how quantitative easing works? The BBC explains how money is created out of nothing and NPR says nobody really knows if this works. Wikipedia has some history of quantitative easing. But the most fun explanation of quantitative easing is by video:



See: Quantitative easing explained easily

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Wiki Week

WikiLeaks“You show people what you’re willing to fight for when you fight your friends,” Hillary Clinton once said. If only all politicians will practice what they preach all the time the world might be, well, even more entertaining, as can gathered from the diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks.

What some US diplomats had to say about their “friends”:

French President Sarkozy is “thin-skinned,” have an “authoritarian personal style” and is “an emperor with no clothes”

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is “feckless, vain and ineffective as a modern European leader”

Andrew Windsor, a British prince, is “cocky” and “bordering on rude”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was described as “weak” and “unstable”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is “risk-averse and rarely creative”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is “like Hitler”

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-il is a “flabby old man”

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is “driven by paranoia”

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is a “pale and apprehensive man” and is “Robin” to Vladimir Putin’s “Batman”

Hillary Clinton views Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as a “behind-the-scenes puppeteer”

Cablegate documents

The diplomatic communiqués, written between 2006 and 2009, were leaked by Bradley Manning, a United States Army soldier. There are 251,287 diplomatic cables from more than 250 US embassies and consulates. 11,000 of the documents are marked “secret”, some 9,000 are “noforn” (information not meant to be shared with anyone outside the United States), and 4,000 are “secret/noforn”.

Since the documents are not “Top Secret” almost 3 million US government employees are cleared to see this level of documents. Some 500,000 employees have access to the document database, the Secret Internet Protocol Network (SIPRnet). But the documents certainly were not meant for foreign eyes.

The documents released on WikiLeaks (and the WikiLeaks mirrors) are rather boring to read. But the response to them is like being entertained by Tom Wolfe , Bob Woodward, John Pilger and Matt Taibbi on the same stage: explosive and, in the very least, very exciting. Both the New York Times (in State’s Secrets) and The Guardian (in The US Embassy Cables) provide excellent coverage of the ongoing satire.

Wiki history

The word “wiki” means “fast” in the Hawaiian language. The concept for a wiki, as a platform for sharing information, was started in 1995 by Ward Cunningham as the WikiWikiWeb. Today there are thousands of wikis, the most known of which are Wikipedia, started in 2001, and WikiLeaks, which was founded by Julian Assange in 2006.

The Wiki Week

With the release of the Cablegate documents the whistleblowing WikiLeaks raised even more controversy than usual during the past week, truly a wiki week. The question: Is WikiLeaks a platform for political activism or conspiracy or a tipping point in international journalism?

Whichever, the above quoted “friends talk about friends” (also ala Hillary Clinton) quips will most likely pale in comparison about what backbiting bankers have to say about each other in the forthcoming WikiLeaks release of bank documents.

If ever you contribute to WikiLeaks, keep the Slovenian proverb in mind: “Speak the truth, but leave immediately after.”



See: The Wiki Week

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Did you know that...

  1. π=3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510 58209 74944 59230 78164 06286 20899 86280 34825 34211 70679 82148 08651 32823 ...
  2. A sphere has two sides. However, there are one-sided surfaces.
  3. There are shapes of constant width other than the circle. One can even drill square holes.
  4. There are just five regular polyhedra
  5. In a group of 23 people, at least two have the same birthday with the probability greater than 1/2
  6. Everything you can do with a ruler and a compass you can do with the compass alone
  7. Among all shapes with the same perimeter a circle has the largest area.
  8. There are curves that fill a plane without holes
  9. Much as with people, there are irrational, perfect, complex numbers
  10. As in philosophy, there are transcendental numbers
  11. As in the art, there are imaginary and surreal numbers
  12. A straight line has dimension 1, a plane - 2. Fractals have mostly fractional dimension
  13. You are wrong if you think Mathematics is not fun
  14. Math is a very rewarding and useful subject. Most Emagister online degrees and colleges require math courses to graduate. Who is the nerd now?
  15. Mathematics studies neighborhoods, groups and free groups, rings, ideals, holes, poles and removable poles, trees, growth ...
  16. Mathematics also studies models, shapes, curves, cardinals, similarity, consistency, completeness, space ...
  17. Among objects of mathematical study are heredity, continuity, jumps, infinity, infinitesimals, paradoxes...
  18. Last but not the least, Mathematics studies stability, projections and values, values are often absolute but may also be extreme, local or global.
  19. Trigonometry aside, Mathematics comprises fields like Game Theory, Braids Theory, Knot Theory and more
  20. One is morally obligated not to do anything impossible
  21. Some numbers are square, yet others are triangular
  22. The next sentence is true but you must not believe it
  23. The previous sentence was false
  24. 12+3-4+5+67+8+9=100 and there exists at least one other representation of 100 with 9 digits in the right order and math operations in between
  25. One can cut a pie into 8 pieces with three movements
  26. Program=Algorithms+Data Structures
  27. There is something the dead eat but if the living eat it, they die.
  28. A clock never showing right time might be preferable to the one showing right time twice a day
  29. Among all shapes with the same area circle has the shortest perimeter

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Top 10 Unique Romantic Gifts

Romantic gift giving can be stressful with having to come up with a idea that's unique and, of course, romantic. Our editor's have scoured the web to find the most unique romantic gifts out there.
  1. 24k Gold Roses
    24K Gold Roses are literally a gift that your sweetheart will treasure forever. These real roses are preserved and covered in 24k gold and will last a lifetime! Each one is unique and each is handmade through a 40 step processes. Regular roses fade in days but these gold roses will last and be treasured by her forever. This is truly a one of a kind, unique gift that will show your sweetie how much she means to you. 24K Gold Roses last forever, just like your love for her.

  2. Personalize Romance Novel
    If you really want to surprise your sweetheart with something completely unique, check out YourNovel.com. They offer personalized romance novels ranging from "mild" to "wild". These romance novels allow you and your partner to star in your own exotic, steamy, and especially romantic love story. Simply provide a few details and select from 15 different novels and you'll have an incredibly romantic (and sexy!) gift arrive at your door. Now, get a special Holiday themed novel titled Season's Greeting, Season's Love. RomanceStuck Special: Get 10% off with coupon code RoStruck5.

  3. Message in a Bottle.
    Get pure romance with a message in a bottle. If you're looking for a truly romantic gift, this is it. You can choose from a huge selection of bottle designs and then write a romantic love letter to include in it. At a loss for words? Not a problem! There are more than 200 pre-written messages that you can choose from! Letters are placed in the bottle and delivered in gorgeous packaging.

  4. "I Love You" Toilet Paper
    Yes, you read that right! This romantic toilet paper is one of the most unique ways to say "I Love You" that we've ever seen. The toilet paper says "I Love You from Top to Bottom" and when your sweetie sees this, they'll know you mean it. ;) It's perfect for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or any other romantic occasion where you want to say "I Love You".

  5. Her Own Star.
    If you want to give her/him the Universe (well, at least a piece of it), then this is the perfect gift. At the International Star Registry, you can name a star after your sweetheart! With your package you receive a beautiful 12" x 16" parchment certificate with the name of your choice, dedication date, and telescopic coordinates of the star. You'll also receive an informative booklet with charts of the constellations plus a larger, more detailed chart with the star you name encircled in red. Make it even more special by telling him or her that they have three wishes to make on their star. Make sure you grant each of these wishes! ;)

  6. Photo Memory Book
    If you're looking for a timeless gift that documents your romance, check out the new Snapfish Photo Memory Books. You can create your own hardcover book documenting your relationship and romance with your digital photos. Easy enough for even beginners to create, the final result is a gorgeous scrapbook of sorts. RomanceStuck Special: Get 15% off your memory book today with coupon code MEMAFF15.

  7. More Meaningful Flowers.
    Send her a gorgeous bouquets of paper roses, customized with your own romantic message. They also offer leather roses, porcelain roses, and many other materials that are included in the traditional anniversary gift list.

  8. Personalized Love Poem.
    The majority of us are not poets and have a hard time getting past the standard "Roses are red, Violets are blue...". Now there's a solution though! You choose the type of poem that you want and provide the personal information. In the end, you receive an incredibly romantic and personalized love poem.

  9. Custom Canvas.
    They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's the case, a canvas picture is worth more. Canvas on Demand takes your photos and transforms them into beautiful canvas prints. What better way to showcase your love than a canvas print hanging on your wall? Get $20 off your order of $200 or more this holiday season with coupon code PF0208.

  10. Dan's Chocolates: Custom Chocolate BoxCustomized Box of Chocolate
    Chocolate is not only delicious, but it's an aphrodisiac! Is there really a better gift? Now you can create your own customized box of gourmet chocolates by adding a favorite photo of you and your sweetie to the box! You not only end up with a delicious gift, but a romantic keepsake as well.





  11. We planned to stop at 10, but just couldn't. There are too many unique, creative, and incredibly romantic gifts out there. So, here are two more of our favorite unique romantic gift ideas:

  12. Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries
    An evening with candles, champagne, and decadent, delicious chocolate dipped strawberries tops the list of ultimate romance. An added bonus is that both strawberries and chocolate are aphrodisiacs! If you want to go all out, you can even get chocolate dipped bottles of champagne and wine.

  13. Custom Sketches & Watercolors.
    My Da Vinci offers another unique, romantic way to give the gift of memories. Imagine your favorite photo as a framed work of art... there is no better way to showcase your love!

    My DaVinci offers services to turn your photos into pencil sketches, DaVinci sketches, Watercolors, Oil Paintings, Leonardo's Pop, Warhol 4 Panels, Caricatures, and more.
source: http://www.romancestuck.com/top-10/unique-gifts.htm

10 Unique iPhone Photography Accessories

The iPhone boasts a pretty decent camera, backed up by a ton of really cool apps, but there’s no doubt there are a few specialized areas of photography — shooting video and still life, for example — where the iPhone could use a helping hand.

We’re not suggesting anyone buy the entire set of accessories we’ve listed below, but you may find one or two items could really improve the shooting capabilities of Apple’s mobile.

So, take a look at the add-ons we’ve found, and let us know in the comments any iPhone accessories that have helped you with your iPhotography.


1. iPhone Tripod Holder


This tripod holder is one of a few options available, but its real selling point is its low price, making it ideal for anyone who might have an occasional need to stick their iPhone on a tripod. For just under $10, you’ll get a simple but useful sturdy mount that features durable brass threads for a secure attachment.

Cost: $9.95


2. Owle Bubo


The Owle Bubo is a fairly major accessory for the iPhone. It transforms the mobile device into a camera with some comprehensive features. It adds a full-size lens, an external microphone, four tripod mount points and an integrated cold shoe for adding lights and the like. Finally, with an ergonomic design, the added weight the Bubo provides increases control for a more camera-like experience.

Cost: $169.95 for iPhone 4, $159.95 for 3G/3GS


3. Flip-Cage with iPhone 4 Mount


This folding tabletop stand for your iPhone 4 or 3GS model can be used as a small tripod and doubles as a desktop stand for watching movies or making Facetime calls. In addition, the iPhone mount can be removed so you can use your phone on any tripod.

Cost: $38.90


4. Factron Quattro Cases


The high-end Factron case for your iPhone will add some metallic and leather chic to your mobile, giving it a classic camera look and feel. The five interchangeable lenses (sold separately) will add more effects to your shooting repertoire. The case is available in 15 different colors and finishes and is made of “duralumin,” which certainly sounds rugged.

Cost: Approx $220


5. Zacuto Zgrip iPhone Jr. Handgrip


The Zgrip iPhone Jr. is a handgrip system for shooting more stable video on the move with your iPhone, and it also offers a thread to mount the handgrip to a tripod for stationary shooting. There’s also another thread on the top for mounting other accessories such as a light.

Cost: $69


6. USBFever’s Special Effects Lenses


If you can’t afford to splurge on Factron’s case-and-lenses system above, then USBFever offers some affordable alternatives. Its range of detachable lenses for mobile devices include fish eye, wide angle, macro and telescopic. The success of the results will no doubt vary, but there’s certainly some fun experimentation to be had.

Cost: From $13 to $22


7. Griffin Clarifi


Designed for iPhone 3G and 3GS, Griffin’s Clarifi case boasts a built-in lens that claims to give your iPhone a boost in camera resolution. Macro and close-up shots are instantly finer in detail, while you can still slide the lens aside for normal photography.

Cost: $34.99


8. Joby GorillaMobile for iPhone 4


Joby is now offering a product especially for the iPhone 4. The stand-alone bumper protects your phone, while the detachable, flexible tripod offers adaptable positioning. In addition to photography, the GorillaMobile can also be used as a desk stand, or even, suggests Joby, attached to a treadmill to watch your favorite show while working out.

Cost: $39.95


9. ZoomIt SD Memory Card Connector


This clever dock connector accessory (and the free app) allows you to use SD memory cards with your iPhone. It lets you view, access and share all of your photos (and other files) from your SD cards on the go without the need to connect to your camera, Mac or PC. It’s slightly pricey, but a fab solution for anyone who favors the SD memory card format.

Cost: $59.95


10. Glif


The soon-to-be-released Glif (enabled by Kickstarter) offers two functions: letting you mount your iPhone to a standard tripod and using a kickstand to prop your phone up at an angle. It’s a simple and elegant solution that’s seen some positive backing. You can pre-order yours now.

Cost: $20


source: http://mashable.com/2010/11/21/iphone-photography-accessories/

10 Unique Hotels in World


Woodlyn Park hotel - New Zealand



Capsul Inn - Tokyo



Mc Menemins Kennedy Schooling Hotel



Green Tree House - India



Mount Old Prison Hotel - Australia



Gamirasu Cave Hotel - Turkey



Exploranter Hotel - Brazil




Woodpecker Hotel - Sweden


Ice Hotel - Sweden




Undersea Beach Hotel - Fiji

source: http://vylibra.blogspot.com/2008/11/10-unique-hotel-in-world.html