Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Fast Rise of Glenn Beck
New York Times Magazine: "At some point in the past few months, Beck ceased being just the guy who cries a lot on Fox News or a 'rodeo clown' (as he has described himself) or simply a voice of the ultraconservative opposition to President Obama. In record time, Beck has traveled the loop of curiosity to ratings bonanza to self-parody to sage. It is remarkable to think he has been on Fox News only since January 2009."
Cenk Uygur & David Pakman on Christine O'Donnell, Elections
By midweekpolitics
-- Cenk Uygur, Host of The Young Turks, joins us live to talk about MSNBC, his car breaking down, Christine O'Donnell, people mistaking Ana Kasparian for his wife, and more.
Broadcast on September 29, 2010
Midweek Politics with David Pakman is a nationally syndicated talk radio and program.
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First Thoughts: What change do voters want?
The new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll identifies the change that voters want ? and don?t want. And while the GOP?s generic-ballot lead narrows from nine points to three, overall dynamics point to substantial Republican gains in November.
BEST EMPLOYERS BEST POLITICAL PODCAST BEST POLITICAL TEAM GRADES BETTY MCCOLLUM
IBM Warns of China Closing the Supercomputer Gap
eldavojohn writes "China is digging a massive hole to house a computer building with the intent of usurping the United States' lead in the field of supercomputing, claims IBM. As of earlier this year, Oak Ridge Lab was beating China's Shenzhen Center. But now, an IBM representative has said to a Washington, DC forum, 'You have sovereign nations making material investments of a tremendous magnitude to basically eat our lunch, eat our collective lunch.' China has long been a contender in this regard, and Europe and Japan have similar goals to build an exascale supercomputer. To achieve this by 2020, the US will need to focus on 'co-design,' where hardware is developed in tandem with every other aspect of the computer, from applications down to optics. This isn't the first time a 'space race' style supercomputing push has been spurred by international competitiveness."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Transgenic crops? built-in pesticide found to be contaminating waterways
by Tom Laskawy.
One of the main arguments offered in support of the wide use of genetically engineered crops is that they reduce overall pesticide use. This is particularly the case with Monsanto’s “Bt” line of corn, soy, and cotton seeds, which are able to produce their own pesticide, a “natural” toxin from genes of the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. Ironically, commercial pesticide derived from Bt also happens to be one of the only chemical pesticides approved for use in organic agriculture, because it’s produced through a biological process.
Biotechnology companies thus consider Bt seeds some of their most “eco-friendly” products. In theory, farmers don’t have to spray pesticide as much or as often on these crops, and therefore pesticide runoff into waterways is much less of a concern. Well, after years of denial, Monsanto finally admitted recently that superbugs, or pests that have evolved to be able to eat the Bt crops, are a real and growing concern. And now, researchers at the University from Notre Dame have shown that the Bt from genetically engineered maize is polluting waterways in Indiana (the study area). They found Bt toxin in almost 25 percent of streams they tested, and all the streams that tested positive were within 1,500 feet from a cornfield.
Bt gets into streams and rivers by leaching out of crop debris left on fields through the now-ubiquitous industrial “no-till” farming technique, in which fields aren’t plowed after harvest so as to prevent soil erosion. As a result, leaves and stalks get washed into streams through large-scale farms’ irrigation canals: the Notre Dame scientists found such debris in almost 90 percent of streams near cornfields. And while the Bt levels detected weren’t shockingly high, the tests were performed six months after harvest. The debris had been sitting in the streams and leaching Bt pesticide into the water for quite a while.
The fun part? No one has any idea yet of the effects of long-term, low-dose exposure to Bt on fish and wildlife. Perhaps it’s high time somebody did a study on that since, as the researchers dryly observed, the presence of Bt toxin “may be a more common occurrence in watersheds draining maize-growing regions than previously recognized.” Apparently.
So. Not only do genetically engineered crops have worse yields than conventionally bred crops, cost more, lead to pesticide resistance, contaminate other plants with their transgenes, possibly cause allergies and even organ damage, but now we also learn that the plants themselves are possibly poisonous to the environment.
These kinds of genetically engineered seeds keep being touted as the only way we’re going to feed the world. Isn’t it about time we started investing in less toxic alternatives?
Related Links:
How to Be a Resilient Gardener
Urbivore’s Dilemma, Week 16: Food in a time of loss
One-on-One with Starcom MediaVest Group's Sean Finnegan
One-on-One with Starcom MediaVest Group's Sean FinneganA one-on-one conversation between Sean Finnegan, President/Chief Digital Officer of Starcom MediaVest Group and Matt Marshall, Executive Producer of DEMO.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Location: Santa Clara, CA, Hyatt Regency, DEMO
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/15/One-on-One_with_Starcom_MediaVest_Groups_Sean_Finnegan
BART STUPAK BASKETBALL BATTLEGROUND: PENNSYLVANIA BEAU BIDEN
The 'most honest' congress in history?
President Obama Talks Christianity And More In NM Backyard
President Obama took his backyard tour to Albuquerque where a woman asked him why he is a Christian. He also was thanked by a man who credited Obama with saving his home and got to show his empathetic side by hugging his host's adult son.
5 Good Reasons to Put a Witch in the Senate
Christine O’Donnell may have dabbled in witchcraft ? but is that any reason to keep her out of Congress?
Judy Bachrach | 09/23/2010 3:45 pm
Unlike W’s former chief adviser, Karl Rove, who thinks that senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell’s erstwhile witchcraft dabbling is a possible campaign minus, something she needs to "explain" immediately "and put it in its most sympathetic light and move on," I’m not at all sure Chrissy needs to be so hasty.
What does she really have to apologize for?
In fact, if we really think about it, coven-lovin’ and witchcraft in general might actually be a big plus for the Tea-Partyette.
Let’s imagine for a moment that Delaware’s Palin-lookalike was glossing things over a tad when she told Bill Maher in 1999, "I never joined a coven." ...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Obama returns to Wisconsin to court young voters
President Barack Obama plans a University of Wisconsin rally complete with rock bands to ask young voters who helped propel him to the White House to re-engage and save fellow Democrats from political disaster this November.
Why Are We Libertarians?
"Why are you libertarians?" a newspaper reporter asked me at a state Libertarian Party convention.
"I'm not sure that I can answer your question the way it's phrased," I said. "Are you asking: 'What's the reason that we are libertarians?'"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm asking," he said.
"Let me respond to your question by analogy," I said. "Then I'll come back to your exact question.
"Suppose you went to a vegetarian restaurant. And suppose you asked, 'What's the reason that these people are vegetarians?' As a diligent reporter, you asked several diners, 'Why are you a vegetarian?'
"But their answers surprised you. You didn't get only one answer or only one reason. Some were vegetarian for ethical reasons. They did not want to cause animals suffering. Some were there because they liked the taste of vegetarian dishes. Others were eating vegetarian to lose weight. Fewer calories and less fat. Others to reduce their risks of heart attack and other diseases. A few came because their friends did. But there were many reasons for being vegetarian or dining vegetarian.
"Does this make sense?" I asked the reporter.
"Okay, I get it," the reporter responded. "Different people have different reasons for being vegetarian. Same thing with libertarians. Right?"
"Yes," I said. "Would you like to hear some of the many reasons that individuals here are libertarians?"
"Sure," he said.
What are the reasons we are libertarians? Here are a few of the many different reasons I shared with the reporter.
1. Moral: because we believe no person or group has the right to initiate force against another.
2. Pragmatic: Freedom works.
3. Utilitarian: Freedom produces the greatest good for the greatest number.
4. Self-Interest: Freedom benefits you. It's in your self-interest.
5. Altruistic: Freedom benefits others.
6. Big Government Doesn't Work. Freedom does.
7. Personal Responsibility: Freedom rewards personal responsibility and punishes irresponsibility.
8. Choice: freedom maximizes choice. In fact, freedom is choice.
9. Prosperity: Economic freedom creates prosperity.
10. Tolerance: the free, competitive marketplace makes bigotry and prejudice very expensive. And very widely known.
There's a persuasion lesson here.
When you talk with family, friends, and co-workers, how many different kinds of reasons for being libertarian are you offering them? How many different approaches to libertarianism do you put in front of them?
* Why Government Doesn't Work by Harry Browne is one approach.
* Libertarianism in One Lesson by David Bergland is quite different.
* Healing Our World by Mary Ruwart is another way to present liberty.
* The Libertarian Idea by Jan Narveson is yet another.
Buy them. Read them. They will stimulate your thinking. Trigger ideas. And provide you with new ways to present libertarianism. Different paths to winning the hearts and minds of those you care for.
Different individuals want different things.
Different approaches to liberty reach different people.
Different reasons for liberty convince different individuals.
There are many paths to libertarianism. Many reasons for becoming a libertarian.
Don't be trapped by the fallacy that there's only one reason, one case, or one justification for liberty.
Will you learn a few of the many different cases for liberty? And will you try them out in your political conversations?
Michael Cloud is author of the acclaimed book "Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion" available exclusively from the Advocates.
One-on-One with SAP CEO Bill McDermott
One-on-One with SAP CEO Bill McDermottWe'll talk with SAP's Bill McDermott about how the largest business software maker for Fortune 1000 companies is focusing on three main areas: 1) managing data for decision makers and operations, 2) helping move the workforce to mobile, and 3) sustainability.
We'll also get a first-time glimpse from McDermott about some new initiatives the company has for the mobile workforce.
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 -0700
Location: Santa Clara, CA, Hyatt Regency, DEMO
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/14/One-on-One_with_SAP_CEO_Bill_McDermott
The SEC 'Flash Crash' Report Will Comfort Investors
Securities and Exchange Commission chief Mary Schapiro says that her agency's report on the May 6 Flash Crash will restore investor confidence in the stock market, because it shows that regulators have a "very deep understanding" of how the exchanges work, Reuters reports.
Schapiro said she expects the SEC to release the report in the next few days. Public confidence in the safety and fairness of U.S. stock exchanges appears to have diminished. The amount...
Eddie Long: Fourth Lawsuit Filed, Man Claims He and Long Had Sex
Filed under: News
A fourth lawsuit has been filed against Atlanta-area pastor Eddie Long, alleging he coerced a 17-year-old into a sexual relationship during a 2005 trip the two took to Africa.
The suit -- filed, like the others, in DeKalb County, Georgia, State Court -- claims Long invited Spencer LeGrande, now 22, on a trip to Kenya.
On the first night in Nairobi, Long asked LeGrande to come to his room, where the youth told the pastor he was having difficulty going to sleep, the suit states. Long provided Ambien, a sleep aid, and they both took the drug, according to the suit.
Long then gave LeGrande a hug, kissed and licked the youth's lips and rubbed the teen's chest, according to the lawsuit. They slept in bed together that evening and during the rest of the Kenya trip, the lawsuit states, adding they went on shopping sprees.
Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.
GOP 'Pledge' makes closing argument to voters
Monday, September 27, 2010
Integrated Marketing in the Era of Participatory Media
Integrated Marketing in the Era of Participatory MediaParticipation in Social Media and Interactive Marketing is no longer revolutionary. It's crucial. In 2009, companies with dedicated social media activity boosted sales by over 18%, while those with minimal or no presence saw a 6% decrease. As 2010 marks a shift in consumer mentality from recession to recovery, companies must adjust their strategies according to how customers make purchasing decisions. Brand differentiation will be key, and companies must be at the forefront in areas like social web, mobile apps and SEO in order to create a distinguished customer experience. The simple truth is that there is no magic one-size-fits-all marketing mix.
iStrategy will arm you with the deep understanding how to align social media and digital strategy according to your organization's processes and to achieve the objectives you're after.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:55:00 -0700
Location: Chicago, IL, Hotel Allegro, iStrategy
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/15/Integrated_Marketing_in_the_Era_of_Participatory_Media
Improving Mexican Education with Volunteer Instructors
Improving Mexican Education with Volunteer InstructorsMexico improves the quality of education in small rural communities with the help of young volunteer instructors.
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Location: Mexico, , Inter-American Development Bank
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/05/15/Improving_Mexican_Education_with_Volunteer_Instructors
BUSINESS AND FINANCE BUSINESS LIST BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS NEWS VIDEO
Obama: Money without reform won?t fix schools
Speaking to TODAY's Matt Lauer in the Green Room of the White House for nearly 30 minutes, President Obama said that additional funding tied to significant reforms ? including a longer school year and lifting teaching as a profession ? is a much-needed fix.
DEMO Awards Ceremony: $1M Prize & Closing (Watch Free)
DEMO Awards Ceremony: $1M Prize & Closing (Watch Free)The DEMO conferences in the United States and China focus on emerging technologies and new products innovations, all of which are thoroughly vetted from applications across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. At each DEMO event, a hand-selected group of the new products are introduced to the world for the very first time to an audience of trade and mainstream media; angel and venture investors; corporate development officers, and other entrepreneurs and technophiles.
Over the past 20 years, the DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events for companies like VMWare, Boingo Wireless, Palm, E*Trade, Tivo, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, thereby helping them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships, and influence early adopters. The DEMO Conferences are Produced by the IDG Enterprise events group in conjunction with VentureBeat. For more information on the DEMO conferences, visit www.demo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:55:00 -0700
Location: Santa Clara, CA, Hyatt Regency, DEMO
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/15/DEMO_Awards_Ceremony_1_Million_Prize_and_Closing_Remarks
Vulnerable House Dems declare their independence
Dear Margo: When Mom's in the Dating Market
How do I nicely tell my mom to lighten up? Margo Howard’s advice
Margo Howard | 09/24/2010 12:00 am
When Mom’s in the Dating Market
Dear Margo: As an adolescent, a teen and then a 20-something, I always thought that by the time I was in my 30s, my mother and I would finally see eye to eye, as I would have finally reached the status of "adult." Well, here I am. And there she is. It seems the older she gets the more difficult she becomes. It’s her way or the highway. Coupled with this are her hypersensitivity and insecurity. She’s touchier than ever and takes everything personally.
Now Mom is single again — and trying to date. The problem? Her insecurity stops her from "putting herself out there." What if no one asks her out? What if she’s not asked on a ...
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Poll Showing Gains by Paladino Excluded Key Candidate From Ballot
A new poll from Rasmussen Reports that suggests tightening in the New York governor's race didn't include Rick Lazio, the Conservative Party nominee.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Launch Session: DEMOfocus on Enterprise Technologies
Launch Session: DEMOfocus on Enterprise Technologies
Ten six-minute product launches and four ninety-second product pitches.Efficiency remains a key enterprise focus today as large companies seek to exploit cloud-based infrastructure and related technologies to lower costs. Yet CIOs must also bring employees simple ways to work from anywhere at any time. Providers that align to these needs will win. Join us as we reveal some of the hottest companies capitalizing on these trends.
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:15:00 -0700
Location: Santa Clara, CA, Hyatt Regency, DEMO
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/14/DEMOfocus_on_Enterprise_Technologies
Ten six-minute product launches and four ninety-second product pitches.Efficiency remains a key enterprise focus today as large companies seek to exploit cloud-based infrastructure and related technologies to lower costs. Yet CIOs must also bring employees simple ways to work from anywhere at any time. Providers that align to these needs will win. Join us as we reveal some of the hottest companies capitalizing on these trends.
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:15:00 -0700
Location: Santa Clara, CA, Hyatt Regency, DEMO
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/14/DEMOfocus_on_Enterprise_Technologies
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