An absolutely amazing 3D video of our cells by medical illustrator David Bolinsky.
Click here
Simply amazing stuff!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wall Street: A Castle built on Quick Sand?
When you hear stories like this one, amongst a myriad of others, combine it with Madoff and you start wondering if the financial 'American Dream' and Wall Street are simply castles that have been built on quick sand and will no longer stand on their own going forward. The banks and brokers are essentially doomed as indicated in their almost non-existent equity prices that continually approach 0. The idea of the American who could purchase whatever they wanted to on credit is pretty close to a dream these days (or a nightmare?), and the once stalwart investment known as your home or real estate is turning out to be a squishy little bug - as reported here ("Median housing prices in the Fort Myers metropolitan area have plummeted from $322,000 in December 2005 to less than $107,000 in December 2008, the Obama administration notes.") I find it interesting nonetheless that everyone keeps talking about 401Ks, IRAs, blah, blah, blah. We've just had a period of over 10 years where the stock market cleaned us out, yet here we go again: "buy paper so that others can work and you can hopefully become rich." It's absurd. Just because the markets performed exceptionally well between 1980 - 2000, is no indication that they will, yet I think we all want to believe that will be the case. Selective memories? This market will get a lot worse before anything improves. Next in line to go: retailers - one of the largest employers in the country. And, with that, goes jobs - millions more of them. And with that, a much weaker consumer, i.e. significantly weaker sales... am I talking myself into a vortex? It's coming, but man do I hope that I am dead wrong in my pessimism.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Death Sentence for $15 Million Fraud
Perhaps we should enforce this type of punishment in the US... I think all management fraud will cease and we'll be able to get back to business in no time. It's just too bad that I am vehemently opposed to the death penalty.
Former chairman of Chinese company sentenced to death
By V. Phani Kumar
Last update: 8:35 p.m. EST Feb. 10, 2009
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- A Chinese court has handed a death sentence to Li Peiying, a former chairman of Capital Airports Holding Co., for bribery and embezzlement of more than 100 million yuan ($14.6 million), according to a state media report. Li was given the sentence by the Jinan Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province in eastern China, after he was found guilty of seeking or accepting bribes for 26.61 million yuan while he was in office from 1995 to 2003, Xinhua reported. Li also misappropriated 82.5 million yuan from 2000 to 2003, according to the court, the report added.
Former chairman of Chinese company sentenced to death
By V. Phani Kumar
Last update: 8:35 p.m. EST Feb. 10, 2009
HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- A Chinese court has handed a death sentence to Li Peiying, a former chairman of Capital Airports Holding Co., for bribery and embezzlement of more than 100 million yuan ($14.6 million), according to a state media report. Li was given the sentence by the Jinan Intermediate People's Court in Shandong province in eastern China, after he was found guilty of seeking or accepting bribes for 26.61 million yuan while he was in office from 1995 to 2003, Xinhua reported. Li also misappropriated 82.5 million yuan from 2000 to 2003, according to the court, the report added.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
An amazing gift
Think the world does not have much left in it? Want to see true love in action? Give me fifteen minutes and I'll show you.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2009!
We're here! 2009 is finally here. One of the most interesting and challenging years is behind us. We can now look ahead, start afresh, think clearly again. A tabula rasa.
There are many changes ahead of us in 2009. For a start, a new president. He has a lot to accomplish, but he is a smart, capable and motivated fellow. The financial system's overhaul will continue. Politicians will continue to flounder. Gas prices may rise or may continue to fall. The financial markets will continue to be their random selves. Black swans will be sighted.
But, you and I enter the last year of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Let's use this opportunity to re-focus our lives to accomplish what is important in creating a better, healthier, happier, kinder, and selfless community. After all, we do have a stated mission as Americans:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union... insure domestic Tranquility... promote the general Welfare... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
So let's do it! Focus on Domestic Tranquility and the promotion of the General Welfare.
On a personal level, there are many new challenges ahead for me. Stay tuned!
And, finally, keep this in mind:
"Keep a clear eye towards life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received... but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage." -- St. Francis of Assisi
There are many changes ahead of us in 2009. For a start, a new president. He has a lot to accomplish, but he is a smart, capable and motivated fellow. The financial system's overhaul will continue. Politicians will continue to flounder. Gas prices may rise or may continue to fall. The financial markets will continue to be their random selves. Black swans will be sighted.
But, you and I enter the last year of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Let's use this opportunity to re-focus our lives to accomplish what is important in creating a better, healthier, happier, kinder, and selfless community. After all, we do have a stated mission as Americans:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union... insure domestic Tranquility... promote the general Welfare... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
So let's do it! Focus on Domestic Tranquility and the promotion of the General Welfare.
On a personal level, there are many new challenges ahead for me. Stay tuned!
And, finally, keep this in mind:
"Keep a clear eye towards life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received... but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage." -- St. Francis of Assisi
Thursday, December 25, 2008
My Christmas Gift to You!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1
I promise you'll get something out of it.
Merry Christmas!
I promise you'll get something out of it.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
America's Worst Breakfast Foods
I recently came across this list and was in complete disbelief. You have to check it out. Here's a summary:
Worst side dish
Burger King Hash Browns (large)
- 620 calories
- 40 g fat (11 g saturated; 13 g trans)
- 1,200 mg sodium
- 60 g carbs
Calorie equilavent: 12 chicken wings
Worst breakfast sandwich
Hardee's Monster Biscuit
- 710 calories
- 51 g fat (17 g saturated)
- 2,250 mg sodium
- 37 g carbohydrates
Sodium equivalent: Six large orders of french fries
Worst kids' meal
Denny's Big Dipper French Toastix with margarine and syrup
- 770 calories
- 71 g fat (13 g saturated)
- 107 g carbs
Fat Equivalent: 23 chicken McNuggets
Worst pastry
Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll
- 813 calories
- 32 g fat (5 g trans fat)
- 117 g carbs
Calorie equivalent: Seven bowls of Froot Loops
Worst smoothie
Smoothie King Grape Expectations II (40 oz.)
- 1,102 calories
- 256 g sugars
- 740 mg sodium
Sugar equivalent: 12 Haagen Dazs ice cream bars
Worst combo meal
McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast
- 1,360 calories
- 64 g fat (22 g saturated)
- 2,325 mg sodium
- 160 g carbs
- 49 g sugars
Saturated fat equivalent: 22 strips of bacon
Worst omelet
IHOP Big Steak Omelet
- 1,490 calories
- (No additional nutrition information available)
Calorie equivalent: More than seven glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts
And the Winner is...
The worst breakfast in America
Bob Evans Stacked and Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes
- 1,543 calories
- 77 g fat (26 g saturated; 9 g trans)
- 2,259 mg sodium
- 198 g carbs
- 109 g sugars
Saturated fat equivalent: 26 strips of bacon
Sugar equivalent: 12 chocolate chip cookies
Sodium equivalent: 12 small bags of potato chips
So, there you go. Most unfortunately I quite enjoy the McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast. It's quite a bummer.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Charles Ponzi vs Bernie Madoff
Why exactly is it called a "Ponzi Scheme?" Who was Ponzi? What did he do? All the answers to all your questions about the mastermind of the fraud named after him.
Click here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20995
Enjoy!
Click here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/20995
Enjoy!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wall Street needs a makeover
I recently got to thinking about the role of Wall Street - asset managers, hedge funds, etc - and whether they really promote society's well being, and whether the field is over saturated today.
I certainly believe that we, as a society, are better off with the likes of Vanguard - low-fee index fund king - who allow the general public to invest at least part of their hard-earned money in stocks, which have shown to be a relatively good investment in the long term. However, I think the glitz and glamor of the industry has now attracted far too many individuals for the wrong reasons - greed and money - and society as a whole is probably worse off as these talented individuals go to Wall Street to - essentially - shuffle a deck of cards, instead of working as engineers to, say, build a better bridge, or come up with a new treatment for an illness, or research better ways to produce energy, etc.
Buying and selling stocks is really not very difficult - you click a button these days. So the question is what do you buy and what do you sell. Some generally ask why, but many do not. Regardless, in today's world, we have an industry in which people make 'careers' out of trying to shuffle around other people's money, and in the process they hope to become ultra wealthy. It's really ludicrous, but understandable if you are really producing something good for society, i.e. returns consistently in excess of the average like Warren Buffett. But, given that over 90% of asset managers cannot even beat the S&P 500, I really don't know why they exist. Moreover, I don't know why people happily give them their dough. Wait, I know - financial illiteracy.
Wall Street has become a gigantic card shuffling machine, where the cards are other people's money. This money has been earned by people who actually 'produce' stuff - tangible and intangible - and contribute to the economy's goods and services. Wall Street, on the other hand, simply tries to catch the wave and hopes that other people (those working at companies like GE, MMM, etc) will be successful at building stuff or providing services, but that they (Wall Street) will be enriched. Hedge funds engage in the most sophisticated form of gambling using options, credit default swaps, and other derivatives that are nothing but a zero-sum game, e.g. for the option buyer to win, the seller must lose. (It is not so with stocks in the long run). Anyway, the whole thing is absolutely absurd and I am not surprised that it is falling apart right in front of our delicate eyes.
I certainly believe that we, as a society, are better off with the likes of Vanguard - low-fee index fund king - who allow the general public to invest at least part of their hard-earned money in stocks, which have shown to be a relatively good investment in the long term. However, I think the glitz and glamor of the industry has now attracted far too many individuals for the wrong reasons - greed and money - and society as a whole is probably worse off as these talented individuals go to Wall Street to - essentially - shuffle a deck of cards, instead of working as engineers to, say, build a better bridge, or come up with a new treatment for an illness, or research better ways to produce energy, etc.
Buying and selling stocks is really not very difficult - you click a button these days. So the question is what do you buy and what do you sell. Some generally ask why, but many do not. Regardless, in today's world, we have an industry in which people make 'careers' out of trying to shuffle around other people's money, and in the process they hope to become ultra wealthy. It's really ludicrous, but understandable if you are really producing something good for society, i.e. returns consistently in excess of the average like Warren Buffett. But, given that over 90% of asset managers cannot even beat the S&P 500, I really don't know why they exist. Moreover, I don't know why people happily give them their dough. Wait, I know - financial illiteracy.
Wall Street has become a gigantic card shuffling machine, where the cards are other people's money. This money has been earned by people who actually 'produce' stuff - tangible and intangible - and contribute to the economy's goods and services. Wall Street, on the other hand, simply tries to catch the wave and hopes that other people (those working at companies like GE, MMM, etc) will be successful at building stuff or providing services, but that they (Wall Street) will be enriched. Hedge funds engage in the most sophisticated form of gambling using options, credit default swaps, and other derivatives that are nothing but a zero-sum game, e.g. for the option buyer to win, the seller must lose. (It is not so with stocks in the long run). Anyway, the whole thing is absolutely absurd and I am not surprised that it is falling apart right in front of our delicate eyes.
Goodbye Madoff
Ah the world of finance - one giant card shuffling machine.
Snippets from the article:
"A Wall Street powerbroker for nearly 50 years who built an influential firm has confessed to a massive fraud scheme that will cost investors at least $50 billion, federal authorities say.
"In 2001, Barron's reported that Madoff's firm was one of the three top market makers in Nasdaq stocks and the third-largest firm matching buyers and sellers of securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
"The criminal complaint signed by FBI Agent Theodore Cacioppi said Madoff told at least three senior employees at his Manhattan apartment Wednesday that the investment adviser business was a fraud and had been insolvent for years, losing at least $50 billion.
Snippets from the article:
"A Wall Street powerbroker for nearly 50 years who built an influential firm has confessed to a massive fraud scheme that will cost investors at least $50 billion, federal authorities say.
"In 2001, Barron's reported that Madoff's firm was one of the three top market makers in Nasdaq stocks and the third-largest firm matching buyers and sellers of securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
"The criminal complaint signed by FBI Agent Theodore Cacioppi said Madoff told at least three senior employees at his Manhattan apartment Wednesday that the investment adviser business was a fraud and had been insolvent for years, losing at least $50 billion.
"Madoff told the employees he was "finished," that he had "absolutely nothing," that "it's all just one big lie" and it was "basically, a giant Ponzi scheme," according to the complaint filed in court."
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ExNasdaq-chairman-arrested-on-apf-13815890.html
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
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