Here’s an interesting thought… To combat the large number of carjackings and other auto-related crime, let’s get rid of speed limits. Yeah, that’ll do the trick. See, without speed limits, motorists will be able to drive fast enough to make targeting them with a gun all the more difficult…
Does that sound a little off to anyone else :icon_eek: ? It’s exactly what legislators in Rio de Janeiro opted to do to combat the city’s horrific auto-related crime. Check out the full story at rueters.com.
Whether this book presents a completely new financial philosophy to you, or simply reinforces the one you have in place, it is well worth a spot on your bookshelf. So many of the personal finance books I come across are dumbed down, poorly written, and simply offer terrible advice. David gives succinct, ethical and excellent advice, and does so with clear and intelligent writing. In addition to The Automatic Millionaire, David has written a number of other books, all of which can be found at amazon.com
I hear a lot about non-profits becoming more innovative in their approach to funding, as well as many success stories involving non-profits turned social entrepreneurs. This article from the Arizona Sun, Non-Profits Turning Enterprising, gives an excellent overview of the many ways a non profit can use a little business to better meet their goals. I also like that the article notes that adding revenue streams can be a detriment as well:
Yet another security hole has been discovered allowing someone to potentially snag sensitive data from you. The hole is unfortunately an exploit using JavaScript, and as such, affects every browser out there. So far, it appears that only Opera and iCab have issued patches. Read the full story.
…and for all you “fans” of Microsoft (yes, that was most definitely tongue in cheek…), here’s a fun quote from the article:
From ABC News today: Microsoft Censors Blogs at Chinese Portal.
The above article is a very interesting read. I wonder, though, if more than simple compliance with the Chinese government is motivating the big Washington company? Perhaps they are complying because doing so translates into fat $$ down the line? Who wouldn’t want to play a huge role in China’s massive upcoming consumer society? So what if getting to the top means aiding the government in squashing the very freedoms that allowed Mr. Gates and Co. to grow their little startup into the powerhouse it has become? It’s all about the $$ right?!!?
I think not. Any company that has been so blessed to have been a part of American society and enjoyed the freedoms she allows, should be ashamed at themselves the moment they begin to pander to such controlling entities as the Chinese government. By helping the government censor language such as “democracy” from Chinese MSN properties, Microsoft is knowingly contributing to the abuse of an entire citizenship’s freedom of speech. Is it really worth the extra $$?
The figure is actually ~£300,000 GBP which is the equivalent of $546,441.88 US (with today’s exchange rate, of course :icon_biggrin: ) and refers specifically to chartered air travel by Prince Charles to Sri Lanka, Australia and Fiji in to assess the tsunami damage earlier this year. Check out the BBC article, Royals Cost Britain ~£37m A Year about the general state of royal spending as it relates to the British taxpayer.
I suppose there is a burning need for an entourage when you are royalty, as well as the justification for a chartered flight on short notice. Yet, somehow, I think half a million dollars (US) could have been used for much greater good in the form of aid relief for those devastated by the tsunamis. Just a thought.
From today’s Washington Post: Vatican Gets Victory in Italian Referendum.
Stem cell research has grown into one of the most charged ethical debates of our time. The pros and cons of the research are sticky as there are huge potential benefits, but also grave potential abuses of human life. At the core of the debate are many complex issues, the least of which is how we define human life.
Are embryos humans? At what point between the intersection of a sperm and egg, and eventual birth, does a human become?
Greenpeace has awarded the “Golden Chainsaw” to Blario Maggi, who is apparently the world’s largest producer of soy (full story here at reuters.com).
I can’t help but snicker at the irony (and I really shouldn’t be snickering at a story that is related to the deforestation of the Amazon…but I am). Is it possible that the world’s largest producer of soy, which just happens to be one of the central protein substances of a vegetarian lifestyle, can truly be, “responsible for 48 per cent of the total forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon”? Doesn’t anyone else think it’s ironic that by consuming soy products instead of beef, partially out of health concerns, but also as a mechanism of protest against deforestation for grazing purposes, actually contributes to deforestation?
Is nothing sacred or safe?
- Anonymous
Hmmmm, interesting: Pilots Guilty of Operating Jet While Drunk. Yet, somehow, the defense is finding a way to spin this to get the clients off a little easier.
Okay. I suppose we should be thankful that this is their argument—it just as easily could have been, “They weren’t really operating the plane when it crashed and killed everyone on board.”