It seems like when it rains, it pours.
Big Aristotle is traded to the Cavs for 10 million in savings, and the option to buy out a washed-up Ben Wallace.
Injury-prone Amare Stoudemire looks to be moving to Golden State's 7th pick of Stephen Curry, Latvian 7-footer Andris Biedrins, and possibly Brandan Wright.
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/PaulCoro/56269
Farrah Fawcett dies, followed by the supernatural pop icon Michael Jackson.
Follow BBC coverage here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7753036.stm
About Me
- Chris Pham
- Chris works for Autonomy Corporation - the innovative leader behind meaning-based computing.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Ferris Bueler's Life Off
Check out this documentary, about the education systems of America, India and China.
There is an ongoing debate as the world flattens and foreigners begin to gain more technical skills than the average American, specifically in Math and Science. Americans are afforded a shorter school year and school days, which produce a 1 year deficit in instruction over 12 years. Some may see this as time which American kids use to socialize themselves into society, build upon skills outside of the classroom, and learn to make decisions on their own time. To others, this is an opportunity for American sloth, the decline of the American mind, and the passing of an era when the ROW was in shambles.
Unfortunately, the effect of education policy take at least a generation to see. Furthermore, the high quality of American colleges, immigration, and the nation's system of innovation may soften the harm caused by a school calendar which has not been altered since our Agrarian Age. As the world begins to compete with America, it is time for her to step up her game. Competition can make us all better.
There is an ongoing debate as the world flattens and foreigners begin to gain more technical skills than the average American, specifically in Math and Science. Americans are afforded a shorter school year and school days, which produce a 1 year deficit in instruction over 12 years. Some may see this as time which American kids use to socialize themselves into society, build upon skills outside of the classroom, and learn to make decisions on their own time. To others, this is an opportunity for American sloth, the decline of the American mind, and the passing of an era when the ROW was in shambles.
Unfortunately, the effect of education policy take at least a generation to see. Furthermore, the high quality of American colleges, immigration, and the nation's system of innovation may soften the harm caused by a school calendar which has not been altered since our Agrarian Age. As the world begins to compete with America, it is time for her to step up her game. Competition can make us all better.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thomas Jefferson
Here's an interesting letter from the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the 3rd president of the United States. In it Jefferson refutes the establishment of religion in government.
In one famous Jefferson quote he demonizes the role of private banks as institutions which will one day, own everything. Which is ironic considering the face he currently gives to our currency.
On the other hand, it seems as if Jefferson proposed that the banking industry stay a free market in a letter to Albert Gallatin. This sentiment is, perhaps, even more germane to the situation we face today.
Although we may feel that the tasks we currently face are unique to our day and are Herculean in difficulty, it is clear that we have been dealing with many of the same issues since the country's inception. Our growth depends on great men (and women) to push a path forward. And if you ever need be reminded of one, just pull out your lucky two-dollar bill.
In one famous Jefferson quote he demonizes the role of private banks as institutions which will one day, own everything. Which is ironic considering the face he currently gives to our currency.
On the other hand, it seems as if Jefferson proposed that the banking industry stay a free market in a letter to Albert Gallatin. This sentiment is, perhaps, even more germane to the situation we face today.
Although we may feel that the tasks we currently face are unique to our day and are Herculean in difficulty, it is clear that we have been dealing with many of the same issues since the country's inception. Our growth depends on great men (and women) to push a path forward. And if you ever need be reminded of one, just pull out your lucky two-dollar bill.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Economist, Einstein, and Extremism
Here's a great post from one of the Economist's Democracy in America's Washington Correspondents that is pretty lucid on the extremism of today's politics.
Basically, the tenet is that MSM's (Main Stream Media) degradation into biased segments (read Fox News and MSNBC) has given platform to extremism on both ends of the political spectrum. Broad sides by the left or right against extremist portions on the opposite side only result in the entire party taking offense. And the Digital Age has enabled a Providence even Monsieur Dantes would find swift.
The general consensus by moderates of all stripes is to deny the existence of the most offensive members of their particular pattern. True believers in communism are probably as rare as true believers in killing abortion doctors. That does not mean they do not exist. In calculus sometimes limits DNE, but it is important not to underestimate the limits of human stupidity.
Einstein may have put it best, "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
But this does not solve our problem, the continuing cycle of extremist politics. As The Economist article mentions, the ushering in of the internet may have unintended consequences. Human psychology trends us to process only what we already want to believe. That's why reading about your team's last second loss over the cover of the morning's newspaper is so painful, or liberals like to watch MSNBC and conservatives, Fox News(still trying to find out who watches CNN). So the creation of countless new channels creates a self-reinforcing cycle of information.
Also mentioned in the post is the credence given to anyone who can type. Bloggers, posters, and Tweeters are all given airtime on MSM channels which are trying to stay relevant and produce 24-hours of programming every day (After Bush leaving, the singular largest reason why Comedy Central has so much material). And when the average internet user hits the internet, there is no differntiation between opinion information and objective information because many of the sites look and even sound alike. MSM channels themselves do not do much to differentiate the two, just watch Mad Money for a few seconds.
So are we doomed? No, of course not. The Wisdom of the Crowds will, hopefully, work over the course of a population of over 300 million. That is not to say that the system will be perfect, that there will be no aberrations. The point is that the process is unnecessarily destructive. To that end, we must call on Old World civility, a trusted friend (and one that not even the most clairvoyant may always heed, Mr. Daily).
There are also outlets we may turn to which do their best to keep journalistic integrity: Bloomberg, The Economist, and to a lesser degree, BBC.
Shake hands, look 'em dead in the eye, don't raise your voice, and maybe you can save the world.
Basically, the tenet is that MSM's (Main Stream Media) degradation into biased segments (read Fox News and MSNBC) has given platform to extremism on both ends of the political spectrum. Broad sides by the left or right against extremist portions on the opposite side only result in the entire party taking offense. And the Digital Age has enabled a Providence even Monsieur Dantes would find swift.
The general consensus by moderates of all stripes is to deny the existence of the most offensive members of their particular pattern. True believers in communism are probably as rare as true believers in killing abortion doctors. That does not mean they do not exist. In calculus sometimes limits DNE, but it is important not to underestimate the limits of human stupidity.
Einstein may have put it best, "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
But this does not solve our problem, the continuing cycle of extremist politics. As The Economist article mentions, the ushering in of the internet may have unintended consequences. Human psychology trends us to process only what we already want to believe. That's why reading about your team's last second loss over the cover of the morning's newspaper is so painful, or liberals like to watch MSNBC and conservatives, Fox News(still trying to find out who watches CNN). So the creation of countless new channels creates a self-reinforcing cycle of information.
Also mentioned in the post is the credence given to anyone who can type. Bloggers, posters, and Tweeters are all given airtime on MSM channels which are trying to stay relevant and produce 24-hours of programming every day (After Bush leaving, the singular largest reason why Comedy Central has so much material). And when the average internet user hits the internet, there is no differntiation between opinion information and objective information because many of the sites look and even sound alike. MSM channels themselves do not do much to differentiate the two, just watch Mad Money for a few seconds.
So are we doomed? No, of course not. The Wisdom of the Crowds will, hopefully, work over the course of a population of over 300 million. That is not to say that the system will be perfect, that there will be no aberrations. The point is that the process is unnecessarily destructive. To that end, we must call on Old World civility, a trusted friend (and one that not even the most clairvoyant may always heed, Mr. Daily).
There are also outlets we may turn to which do their best to keep journalistic integrity: Bloomberg, The Economist, and to a lesser degree, BBC.
Shake hands, look 'em dead in the eye, don't raise your voice, and maybe you can save the world.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Type
One of the greatest challenges in life is the balance of ambition and joy. My soul suggests that once I find my passion I can accomplish both at once. My head tells me how unlikely that is to happen.
Ambition is a demanding mistress. She calls on you in all hours, demands your utter devotion, and will more than likely cheat on you with the next guy. You have to talk to her, reason with her, study her. Endless hours of work and toil. And she might not even stay with you. Sucks. But damn does it feel good when she’s fulfilled. (But she is never satisfied)
Joy is out there doing exactly what you want to do. She’s rock climbing, and wakeboarding, and hanging out on the beach. She’s out there, traveling the world, laughing at shows, and contemplating history’s greatest masterpieces. She’s perfect and you always want to be with her. And she’s always where you want to be.
Somewhere, down the road, I’ll find my girl. For now, I stand on the intersection of almost and there.
Ambition is a demanding mistress. She calls on you in all hours, demands your utter devotion, and will more than likely cheat on you with the next guy. You have to talk to her, reason with her, study her. Endless hours of work and toil. And she might not even stay with you. Sucks. But damn does it feel good when she’s fulfilled. (But she is never satisfied)
Joy is out there doing exactly what you want to do. She’s rock climbing, and wakeboarding, and hanging out on the beach. She’s out there, traveling the world, laughing at shows, and contemplating history’s greatest masterpieces. She’s perfect and you always want to be with her. And she’s always where you want to be.
Somewhere, down the road, I’ll find my girl. For now, I stand on the intersection of almost and there.
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