Igor

Africa Addio

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:57:29 GMT

Africa Addio courtecy of bbb .

It's been shot in 1966, but it may as well has been shot today -- there is plenty of similar materials there available today; things have not changed much.

A few thoughts in Russian:

Страшно.

Чувствую себя одном из тех аристократов в море нищеты. Аристократов, чьи года считаны и плоды чьей жизнени будут растоптаны в прах.

А ещё возникают мысли о том что достаток только возможен для меньшенства, т.к. это гуманное меньшенство (ибо достаток требует гуманной организации общества) будет помогать менее цивилизованным (а потому менее гуманным) "собратьям", что поведёт к быстрому росту того населения.

Так что всегда, будут "волны" "классовой вражды" на границах "цивилизованного меньшенства" и "оснотительно дикого" большенства.

Same in English:

Scary.

I feel like one of those Aristocrats living in a sea of poverty, and whose years are numbered and whose life work is likely to be obliterated.

And I do get a though, from time to time, that living in plenty is only possible for a minority of the people, since that humane minority (since to be productive, a society must be humane) will alawys help their less civilized (and, therefore, more barbarous) "brothers", which will cause a population explosion among the latter.

Hence, there will always be "waves" of bloodshed and "class struggle" on the borders of the "civilized minority" and "relatively barbarous" majority.

Unintended consequences

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:14:38 GMT

I've just learned what caused the banks to start using electronic copies of checks instead of the actual checks.

It is ... September 11, 2001!

Before, the checks had to be physically delivered to your bank for drawing. But on 9/11, when all airplanes were grounded, billions of dollars in checks where left stuck in those planes unable to reach their destination!

P.S.
And right now there is a patent case against many banks by the patent holder for this electronic check copy technology. It looks like some banks (Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan Chase) have obtained proper licenses, but most banks did not do so. Instead, the banks have hired lobbyists who are pushing for a special law that would give immunity to the banks in this particular litigation! (Does it remind anyone of Terri Shivo case?) Moreover, the law would also include $1 Billion of public (!) money to pay to the plantiff so that they do not touch the banks!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303731_pf.html

A God Delusion Index

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:52:31 GMT

I actually like this video! It asks the right qestions.

My "Index" is 40.

Posting a letter you received online is now illegal

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 04:21:27 GMT

It it is even worse. Someone can send you a Cease And Desist letter (or any other legal letter), and you cannot post it online for everyone to see, because ... you'd be violating Copyright Law! I really hope this is overturned!

Not only is there usually little creative content in such letters, but they are much more "functional" (a step in a legal proceeding) than "creative".

Still, some idiot judge ruled them protected by Copyright!

http://www.prweb.com/releases/DozierInternetLaw/InternetLawyer/prweb650951.htm

I really hope this is appealed and overturned!

Cambridge Elections tomorrow (updated)

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:09:52 GMT

Here is my guide to elections.

School Committee:

Luc Schuster #1
Patty Nolan #2
Joe Grassi #3
Fred Fantini #4
Stefan Malner #5
Nancy Tauber #6 <= moved from #1 to #6, because she actually did nothing intellectual as a teacher. "Can do the talk but cannot do the walk" And she should stop giggling when interviewed.

Please, no Marc McGovern!

Eval criteria:
1. Do they consider the needs of middle-class children or are mostly concerned with low-income, poor, and delinquent ones?
2. Are they into action, concreete plans or just pure fluff (ie not too bright and full of themselves)

Councelors:

Henrietta Davis #1
Craig Kelley #2
Tim Toomey #3
Jonathan Janik #4
David Maher #5
Larry Ward #6
Sam Seidel #7
Brian Murphy #8

These ones are harder.

Eval criteria:
1. Are they mindful of excessive "affordable housing" brings down the real estate prices and damaging the schools (and drain the treasury)? Or do they operate on "more! more! affordable housing!"?
2. Are they worried about he fiscal state or do they want to "spend, sped, spend" on cool things like leading-the-world-by-example in spending on Green Everything?
3. Are they into action, concreete plans or just pure fluff (ie not too bright and full of themselves)

Sources:

http://vote.rwinters.com/
http://www.cctvcambridge.org/candidates

Chinese toys recall

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:18:10 GMT

Elementary School Entrance Exam Question

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:11:46 GMT

"What number does ? stand for on the last line?"
(taken from here)

8809 = 6
7111 = 0
2172 = 0
6666 = 4
1111 = 0
3213 = 0
7662 = 2
9312 = 1
0000 = 4
2222 = 0
3333 = 0
5555 = 0
8193 = 3
8096 = 5
7777 = 0
9999 = 4
7756 = 1
6855 = 3
9881 = 5
5531 = 0
2581 = ?

Hint (read ONLY if you are stuck!): An "average" preschooler will likely have a much easier time with this than an adult or a very advanced preschooler, since they cannot multiply, do not know large numbers, and can hardly even add,

Immigration Law in Action

Thu, 31 May 2007 04:53:11 GMT

What mainly determines the success of an Asylum case? The facts? The quality of the lawyers?

Not at all. It is the whim of a judge to whom the case is assigned.

In one of the starker examples cited, Colombians had an 88 percent chance of winning asylum from one judge in the Miami immigration court and a 5 percent chance from another judge in the same court. [And this is not just one or two rouge judges!]

More on US Schools -- A Student get arrested in Chicago writing an essay

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:27:06 GMT

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070425essay,1,696682.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

I said many time before how I hate "Scared Activists" and "Better Safe Than Sorry Bureaucrats" (ie. let's make sure to cover my own butt even if that will screw up someone else's life in the process).

First, there was a "Scared Activist" that got scared by an LED sign in Boston along with the Boston's bravest making a spectacle out of themselves by running around scared about bombs.

Now, there is a teacher (and the principal) of a school, where an straight-A student writes some emotional poetry (no threats against anyone at all -- just some dark poetry). What did the "Scared Activists" do? Reported the guy to the police! What did the Chicago's bravest do? You guessed it -- "better safe than sorry" -- they arrest him and charge with Disorderly Conduct for ... making his teacher distressed by his poem!

So, pleas,e take it as a warning, people! If you write something that affects someone in a distressing way, you may be guilty of a crime! Better write exclusively about flowers (and no carnivore flowers, please)!

Real Estate Roller Coaster -- an interesting visualization

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:15:21 GMT



"Real Estate Roller Coaster -- an interesting visualization" on Google Video
US Home prices adjusted for inflation plotted as a roller coaster the graph is here: http://www.speculativebubble.com/videos/real-estate-roller-coaster.php

Russian army

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:24:02 GMT



"Russian army" on Google Video
No Comment

Krasnaya shapka

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:19:42 GMT



"Krasnaya shapka" on Google Video
Клёвая Красная Шапочка

Kot v sapogah

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:17:40 GMT



"Kot v sapogah" on Google Video
Кот В Сапогах

Tax Treatment of Employee Stock Option -- Fair? Unfair?

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:07:02 GMT

Inspired by: http://angerona.livejournal.com/665475.html

What are the employee stock options? Are they a mere "promise of a bonus" or a "valueable investment position"? I know the IRS's answer. But I am after reasons/logic/fairness here.

First, let's compare Employee Stock Options to ordinary Bonuses, which we all probably agree should be taxed as Ordinary Income at the time they are given out.

Bonuses are uncertain but are sometimes given based on the good perfornace of the company. Options are similar -- their payoff is uncertain but is based on the good perfornace of the company. So, we could equate granting a stock option with a promise to give a bonus in the future based on how much better the company will be doing in the future.

So we seem to have only three logical outcomes:

Tax a "promise of the bonus" as Ordinary Income when the promise is given (and we'd need to assign a "value" to such a "promise"); then, when and if the bonus is received, tax the actual bonus as cap gains.

Tax a "promise of the bonus" as Ordinary Income when and if the promise is received (and we'd need to assign a "value" to such a "promise"); also, at the same time, tax the actual bonus as cap gains.

Tax the actual bonus when it is received as Ordinary Income.

The problem here is that this notion of an Option as a mere "promise of a bonus" clashes with the notion of a regular investment.

If instead of getting this Option from the company for free, I were to get an actual cash bonus for which I'd buy a 10 year Call Option on the open market, I would be receiving the same "promise of a bonus if the company will be doing better". Then, I'd be taxed according to the #1 above instead of #3. But what changed? (Yes, purists will tell me that market Call options are more valuable, since there are fewer restriction on them -- like being valid only till you quit the company and inability to resell it, but this seems to be a quantititive and not qualitative difference in the values.)

So is the Option a mere "promise of a bonus" or a "valuable investment position"? That seems like a tough question!

I'd welcome more thoughts about it! (Just do not quote me IRS regulations as an "argument".)

Nice business!

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:39:21 GMT

http://www.cashnetusa.com/fee-schedule-rhode-island.html

This is a truly amazing profit margin! Can anyone think of a more profitable business?

Know Your Customers!

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:02:09 GMT

Worried about SUP? Let 6-Apart know!

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:51:49 GMT

Все кто хотят на деле повлиять соглашение ЖЖ с Русским СУПом, пишите в 6-Раздесьлых (владельцы ЖЖ)! Вот текст моего письма (там есть и адрес по которому можно писать).

То что волнует больше всего меня -- это личная информация о Русскоязычных пользователях, которую ЖЖ предоставит СУПу. На сколько я слышал, даже если сервис СУПа не будет навязан автоматически всем "Русским", то личная информация обо всех "Русских" будет передана СУПу для целей маркетинга своего сервиса (и, под честное слово, только для маркетинга своего сервиса).

To: partners@sixapart.com
Subject: Warning about LiveJournal outsoursing Russian-segment support

Dear friends at 6-Apart/Livejournal,

You are obviously aware of the negative reaction among a significant number of long-time and active LiveJournal users of the Russian descent about the recently announced deal with a Russian company, SUP. I am writing to you to add my voice of grave concern about that deal.

I and other Livejournal users understand that 6-Apart has been trying to serve the large Russian-language community by entering into the partnership agreement with SUP. My Russian friends and I only blame American inexperience in dealing with ex-Soviet companies for willingly entering into this partnership. Americans are known to build their businesses on trust and a belief in long-term mutual gains. Unfortunately, neither value has much cultural support in the former USSR. Russian companies are known to abuse trust and reach for trivial short term gains sacrificing the long-term goals. An adherence to laws, regulations, and agreements has little value in the Russian business culture. Law-obedience is often considered to be a sign of plainliness and lack of imagination. As the saying goes, "only an American can believe that a Russian company will adhere to Russian laws, much less to the laws of the United States and of the State of California."

Hence, once again, I would like to warn you that outsourcing any vital part of LiveJournal service to a Russian company is asking for trouble.

Unfortunately, in the last few days, my fears of the "Russian Service" have only increased, as I and other users have witnessed employees of SUP using their LiveJournal accounts to publicly and rudely degrade and offend users who express their reservations about their company. (I am not providing the links and quotes, because I am sure you’ve seen them many times already. If that is not the case, please, let me know, and I’ll furnish any required information.) I am sure that such "customer service" is one of the best ways to ruin the goodwill of the Russian Community that LiveJournal has cultivated.

At this point, I am not certain of the details of the transaction. However, I and many other people would be terrified to learn if any personal information is made available (under any sort of agreement) to a Russian company without a very specific acceptance of this fact by the individual users. In fact, I am aware of several people preparing to file law suits in the states of California and Washington to preempt such an eventuality. Therefore, I am suggesting that you post the details of the transaction and, especially, information transfer as soon as possible.

Please, do not hesitate to contact me for more information. You can reach me at: [my email] or [my phone number].

Best regards,

Igor [My last name]

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:00:43 GMT

Светлая память десяткам тысяч невинно убитых и побольше сил сотням тысяч искалеченных за эти пять лет.

Googlebombing - Failure

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:33:58 GMT

I guess this has been around for some time, but I have only discovered it recently.

Go to www.google.com and search for "Failure". :)

Repost: PR war in the Middle East war

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:36:12 GMT

http://www.aish.com/movies/PhotoFraud.asp

Mexico Presidential Elections

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:42:45 GMT

The smart money, both in politics and soccer, has bet on Calderon getting a boost in the election if Mexico does well in Germany.
The conservative is a soccer fan who peppers his speeches with references to the sport, while Lopez Obrador likes baseball.

New job - Day 1

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 01:55:30 GMT

Fun crowd, double the commute time, maybe 25 min of daily walking will substitute for the gym...

Sex calms nerves before public speaking

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:41:38 GMT

Now I know a great way to prepare for presentations and job interviews!

Будем сочетать полезное с приятным. :)

Libertarian Utopia and Real World Negotiations

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 23:27:19 GMT

the economic logic dictates that warfare conducted purely for economical reasons between owners of the enterprises would evolve into ritualistic posturing and generally peaceful negotiation based on perceived outcomes...
Thanks to ygam for a reference!

Funny, in the real world, ritualistic posturing and (initially) generally peaceful negotiations often evolve into an actual warfare. :) The reason for that is, incidentally, well-supported by the "economic logic" (game theory).

When one party in any negotiations is known for his very rational, unprincipled decision-making, i.e. "will always agree to the lesser evil for himself, regardless of how 'unfair' that deal is", the other party just starts to escalate the demands and tries to project the image of unreasonableness. (Of course, we are not talking here about a negotiation in a market for some soap bar; we are talking about situations when an absence of this particular deal will mean very large losses for both parties.)

For example, in the given case of two countries or corporations at the brink of a war, if one of them is "totally reasonable", the opponent will calculate the cost of an actual war and its outcome to the reasonable party and claim that they will not shy away from a war, unless they get, say, 90% of that entire cost as a retribution.

Hence, if you play your win-win, you will be always a loser. That's why in the real life, such "negotiations" evolve into hostile actions to demonstrate to the other party that "I am willing to hurt myself just to get you; I am unreasonable; give me what I ask for, or we'll both get very hurt!"

By the way, that's exactly how labor negotiations proceed:

"We'll strike! Yes, we'll lose salaries, yes, we'll go to jail for the illegal strike. We do not care! Sue us! Just remember, you'll lose $$$! Maybe, you can think of how much our strike will hurt you and compromise most of it away?"

"No way! I've got lots of money to weather through this. I've got more than you have. If you strike, I can lock this shop down for as long as it takes. Hell, I'll even go out of business, if you force me to, but then all of you will loose everything and your children will starve! You will not win this, so do not even try!"

Then, the union sometimes strikes to show that they are the most intolerant and principled of the two. Often, the employers just say "fine" or worse in response to show that "they are also fully committed to their threats." In the end, it is a game of chicken to see who blinks first. Such strikes can go on for months with enormous losses on both sides and no government involvement.

Nigerian Chain Letter - Round 2

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 22:38:17 GMT

So we have all receive "I am a President of @!#$% and need you to get a lot of money", right?

Well, today that crap has ... called me! Yes, called me on the phone!

"I am from Liberia. I found your phone number on the Internet. I came here with many millions of dollars. But I cannot receive it before of some fees that I need to pay. ..."

I've let him talk as much as he wanted to (I've just put a handset down next to the phone) -- let him waste his time and money (if he is paying for this call). His phone number comes up as "952281540". This is clearly the next level. Are they getting desperate or just trying out a new marketing strategy?

Man, this is disturbing!