INTERESTING: The interesting paradox of greed

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Corporate Altruism?
By Robert Ringer

***Begin Quote***

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right,
greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms;
greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked
the upward surge of mankind.”

– “Gordon Gekko” in the movie Wall Street (1987), screenplay by Stanley Weiser and Oliver Stone

***and***

The fact is that greed is neither good nor bad. It is simply a human trait. Greed is technically defined as “an excessive desire to acquire more than what one needs or deserves.” And since no one has either the moral authority or omniscience to decide what is excessive (let alone what a person needs or deserves), what greed really means is desire. And everyone has desires – for wealth, power, prestige, love, understanding. No end to the list.

***End Quote***

It’s very interesting the paradox for greed.

One can only get rich by making your fellow humans give you certificates of appreciation. (Money!) The more you serve others the more certificates you earn. You can exchange these certificate for the goods and services of your fellow human.

So be as “greedy” as your miserable nasty grim soul drives you to be.

It means you are actually cooperating in the strange Kabuki dance that we call the “free market”.

It fascinates me that “greed” actually drives “social cooperation”.

You have to admire the Intelligent Designer’s sense of humor!

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TECH SERVICE: tips and tricks for the Gmail user by Bob Rankin

Monday, December 10, 2007

http://askbobrankin.com/gmail_beyond_the_basics.html

***Begin Quote***

Gmail: Beyond the Basics
————————–

I love my Gmail. In fact, I’ve been using Google’s web-based email service for over two years now, and there’s NOTHING about traditional desktop email software that I miss. If you’ve been hesitating about moving your email online, read my tips and tricks for the Gmail user who wants to advance beyond the basics of the inbox.

I cover advanced searching in Gmail, how to use labels and filters, keyboard shortcuts, and how to tweak your Gmail settings to win friends, influence people and become better looking. ;-)

***End Quote***

Maybe I’ll have to reconsider my current reliance on LookOut from MSFT!

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POLITICAL: Neat Ron Paul video

Monday, December 10, 2007

Neat Ron Paul video

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-t_YD-sDhw

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Energy from the youth.

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MONEY: When will people wake up about what “money” is, and is not?

Monday, December 10, 2007

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-466210540567002553&pr=goog-sl

Money, Banking and the Federal Reserve
41 min 25 sec – Jun 1, 1996
Average rating: (868 ratings)

***Begin Quote***

Description: Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson understood “The Monster”. But to most Americans today, Federal Reserve is just a name on the dollar bill. They have no idea of what the central bank does to the economy, or to their own economic lives; of how and why it was founded and operates; or of the sound money and banking that could end the statism, inflation, and business cycles that the Fed generates. Dedicated to Murray N. Rothbard, steeped in American history and Austrian economics, and featuring Ron Paul, Joseph Salerno, Hans Hoppe, and Lew Rockwell, this extraordinary new film is the clearest, most compelling explanation ever offered of the Fed, and why curbing it must be our first priority. Alan Greenspan is not, we’re told, happy about this 42-minute blockbuster. Watch it, and you’ll understand why. This is economics and history as they are meant to be: fascinating, informative, and motivating. This movie could change America.

***End Quote***

Never?

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LINKEDIN: “a social networking tool” … maybe? maybe not!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

FROM AN EMAIL EXCHANGE ABOUT “LIVELINESS”

*** begin quote ***

From: GB
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 8:50 AM
To: John Reinke
Subject: Re: Has anyone tested the “liveliness” of their LinkedIn “network”?

Okay, I read and re-read this.

I am not sure what you are exactly trying to say.

I recognize LinkedIn as a social networking tool. Outside of that, the voluntary and or involuntary act of CHAT or IM exist only where there are willing participants.

I would chat if there was something to chat about.

Perhaps, if you develop a forum that you wish to chat about or subjects that you would like feedback, you might draw the sustainable interest in the participants.

Outside of that, not everyone had a 6 sigma mentality and or even the slightest idea what that entails.

I, myself, am confused at times about the ‘how’s’, the ‘who’s’ and the ‘what’s’.

But, after all, it is only social networking. Not like it is dating or any other real and tangible way to communicate…right?

How you doin’
GB

*** end quote ***

>Okay, I read and re-read this.

Sorry, I wasn’t clearer.

>I am not sure what you are exactly trying to say.

LinkedIn is a “strange duck”. It’s not “networking”. It’s probably more than a “yellow pages for recruiters”. Folks are fooled into an “activity trap”
and think they are “doing networking”.

>i recognize LinkedIn as a social networking tool.

Tool? Hmmm, not sure of that.

>you might draw the sustainable interest in the participants.

I’m not trying to “draw the sustain able interest”. I’m trying to figure out what is the proper place for LinkedIn within my own thinking.

>not everyone had a 6 sigma mentality

OK, if you’re not into 6sig. Then, let me phrase the same question in “plain English”. If LinkedIn is a tool, then what value has it provided me that justifies the attention, work, money, or time that I put into it?

>But, after all, it is only social networking.

SO, it should be considered like MySpace, Facebook, or Friendster? I bet that’s a minority opinion.

> Not like it is dating or any other real and tangible way to communicate…right?

Maybe?

>How you doin’

Get ready for the next layoff, jobsearch, and my next to last job. :-) Fatalistic. But, best not to be surprised.

Thanks for the thoughts

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Addendum:

Regardless of how solid one thinks one is in the job they are doing somewhere, it’s wise to be “aware”. I’ve pontificated often on the need of “salarymen”, as the Japanese wisely call those of us who are working for a paycheck, that you are only sure of the last paycheck that cleared the bank! It’s nice to believe in mutual loyalty between employer and employee, but, like most myths, hitting that “iceberg of reality” can put a big hole in YOUR boat. Bear in mind, it may not even be the employer’s “fault”. But even if it is, you must be prepared for when “the show closes”.

You always have to see the NEXT layoff in your future. It maybe next week, next month, next quarter, next year, next decade … … but be assured there WILL BE one! Sooner or later. Like a snowstorm, flood, or tornado, there’s going to be one. Salarymen must be prepared for it!

Give 100% to your employer for that is what you bargained for. Then, give 100% to finding your next gig. Never ever get caught by surprise.

In my patented copyrighted super-secret Coke-like formula for “how many months will I be burning not earning”, I have a factor for your to rate your employer. Factor is ONE for gooferment workers. (Although that may change if your work for the IRS and Ron Paul gets elected. But you get the idea.) Factor is FIVE if you work on WALLSTREET. How likely are you to get NUKED? The point is there is always some probability that you’ll get tossed out on your year. Just yesterday, I heard a senior exec at my employer tell a room full of folk “no job is safe”. So, I’d be a fool not to heeded my own advice.

:-)

And I may be a the big fat old turkey hisself and a FOWG to boot, but Mama Reinke didn’t raise no fool. (Where do you think my obsession with working comes from? Her Scarlet O’Hara-like dream of never being hungry gain!)

So, it’s get busy NETWORKING to prevent NOTWORKING!

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TECHNOLOGY: robot bomb squad are looking to automate firefighting

Sunday, December 9, 2007

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/12/meet-your-robot.html

Meet Your Robotic Firefighters
By Noah Shachtman
December 05, 2007 | 5:15:00 PM

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The makers of Iraq’s robot bomb squad are looking to automate firefighting, too.

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Neat! Not hard to imagine more dirty jobs going to robots.

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POLITICAL: An invite to a virtual tea party!

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Join the 2007 version of the Boston Tea Party — December 16th (for those who went to Gooferment skoolz!), all us young revolutionaries will be there!
:-)

*** begin quote ***

From: Ron Paul 2008
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 1:38 PM
Subject: Message from Ron

December 3, 2007

Want to know a secret? There were two moments I especially enjoyed at the CNN/YouTube debate — despite my frustration at some of the questions, and the maldistribution of time.

First, I was pleased at John McCain’s attack, which he clearly had planned.
Not because that sort of stream-of-consciousness nonsense about Hitler and WWII — when the neocons openly want what they call WW IV! Are we to forget that the first war crime charged at Nuremberg was waging aggressive war?

I mean this: mainstream politicians NEVER attack an opponent they think is far behind. The McCain campaign, we’ve heard, is worried sick about New Hampshire, and they thought a slam at me would help. Ha! Of course, it only strengthened our forces.

Then, after the debate, Rudy Giuliani walked up to me and said, “Oooh, you sure have a LOT of supporters.” It’s only the beginning, I told him.

Indeed, he could have told that by the crowd outside after the debate. Mitt Romney had a few people, but no one else did. We, on the other hand, had about 500 enthusiastic revolutionaries, plus a boat, a trolley, and two planes towing lighted signs. As I looked out at the crowd, I thought: the establishment has no idea of what they are facing. We have an army of freedom, prosperity, and peace. As the LA Times political blog noted the other day, the British also thought they had no problem with the Americans–until Yorktown.

But we have an astoundingly short time before the first contests. The Iowa caucuses are on January 3, the New Hampshire primary is on January 8, and Nevada and South Carolina are both on January 19. We have only 30 days to stake our claim to the nomination, and to the new America that restores the ideals of the founders, and leads the world through free enterprise, a sound dollar, the rule of law, and peaceful example. Not through inflation and bombs.

Help me surprise the neocons and all the establishment with our success.
Help me build the foundation for the America we all want. Send your most generous contribution: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate. The military-industrial complex, the biased media, the big banks, the Fed, the waterboarders, and the IRS don’t like what we’re doing. But every good American is applauding us, and daring to hope for a better future.

Please, help me give it to them, to us, to all Americans to come. Keep this revolution growing and winning: https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate.

Sincerely,

Ron

Paid for by the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign Committee.

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MONEY: What Is Insurance

Sunday, December 9, 2007

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog

***Begin Quote***

What Is Insurance and How Does It Fit Into My Plan?

Insurance is the cheapest and most immediate way for a person to displace risks that are too great to assume individually. I can afford the doctor for an annual check-up, but what if I need an MRI and surgery? By paying a smaller amount up front, I am moving the responsibility from my shoulders to a large organization.

***End Quote***

This drives me wild. It is so basic, yet we seem to have zero understanding.

(1) Ever watch the TV commercials made famous by Ed McM. Insure your baby. Insure your funeral expenses. Insure what? What in the Intelligent Designer’s name are you protecting against?

(2) Social Security Insurance? That Ponzi scheme should have never been allowed to assume the word “insurance”.

(3) “Health” Insurance that pays for routine maintenance stuff.

Insurance on the open market for true catastrophes, like death, are cheap and easy to buy. Life Insurance was pioneered by the fraternal organizations to mitigate the death of a wage earner.

So what are you calling “insurance” that isn’t? And, what are you paying for that you shouldn’t even be “insuring”? And, what are your biggest risks? Are they “insurable”? And which ones should you be mitigating and which should you properly be “insuring” (i.e., the big hairy ones)?

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INTERESTING: 2008 Ballot Initiative to

Saturday, December 8, 2007

FROM SMALL GOVERNMENT EMAIL

***Begin Quote***

===========================================================
IN THE FIRST 5 DAYS OF DECEMBER, WE’VE ALREADY GOTTEN AS MUCH
MASSACHUSETTS NEWS COVERAGE AS WE DID IN THE FIRST YEAR – THE FIRST
365 DAYS – OF OUR 2002 BALLOT INITIATIVE TO END THE INCOME TAX
===========================================================

ABC Boston, MSNBC, Concord Monitor, Nashua Telegraph, front page
Boston Metro, WBZ, WBUR, WRKO, the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe,
Worcester Telegram and Gazette, SoCo Magazine, numerous talk radio
shows, several news radio shows, plus cable and broadcast TV news.

Six years ago, the Boston News Media tried to silence us and black us
out.

Then, in November 2002, our first END the Income Tax Initiative in
Massachusetts got 885,683 votes – 45%. We did it with volunteers, a
small budget, and advertising spending of less than $89,000.

And in the last 6 years, the Internet has become a 900-pound
information gorilla. Internet News and Opinion Media now drive old-
economy, Mainstream Newspapers, Radio, and TV News coverage.

The Internet is shattering the information control and gate-keeping by
Newspaper, Radio, and TV News Sources.

The Internet says, “No more censorship and news control by the
Mainstream Media and for the Mainstream Media.”

This is why we’ve already gotten as much Massachusetts News Coverage
in the first 5 days of this month for our 2008 Ballot Initiative to
END the Income Tax as we got in the first YEAR – the first 365 days –
of our 2002 Ballot Initiative to End the Income Tax.

See this (12/3/07) article in the New York Times’ OWNED Worcester
Telegram and Gazette:

http://www.telegram.com/article/20071203/NEWS/712030628

Or see Howie Carr’s column in the Boston Herald (12/02/07)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1048284

***End Quote***

Imagine if these nuts can roll back the Income Tax in Taxachusetts?

It would be stunning.

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JOBSEARCH: My Judge Judy Law Degree says that this may be good enough in a severance chat

Saturday, December 8, 2007

FROM AN MLPF EMAIL EXCHANGE

***Begin Quote***

>Re: job in Florida
>Posted by: “Nadine Turner”
>Tue Dec 4, 2007 9:24 pm (PST)
>HOW you’ve successfully negotiated an employment contract. I’m not focused on fair pay

I haven’t gotten a contract on the inbound side, but I have gotten contracts on being throw out the door.

Go figure?

>HOW YOU GOT the contract

If a contract is a meeting of the minds as evidenced in writing …

… then I’d assert that you can write a letter indicating that you are accepting their offer and outlining what you understand the terms to be.

(My Judge Judy Law Degree, and experience, tells me that it might be good enough to use in exit negotiations. YMMV)

Should they respond in writing correcting your obvious mistakes, (Notice: I didn’t say include something wrong deliberately, but mistakes do happen. Not typos; some significant item like three weeks vacation and seven paid holidays — when the deal was for 6.) Well, then I’d feel comfortable in front of Judge Judy saying here it is “Your Honor”.

:-)

<<Bear in mind, I am not a doctor, lawyer, nor indian chief. I have not played one on TV. And, most certainly have not stayed in a Holiday Inn Express recently. This advice is given for entertainment purposes. And, is not to be considered investment advice under the SEC Act, medical advice under the AMA protection racket, or indian advice which is limited to the BoIA diktats. Since your facts and circumstances may differ please consult your own doctor, lawyer, or indian chief as appropriate.>>

Clearly, if something is important to you, then you have to ask yourself “just how important”?

If I was reloing for a job when I had a job already, then I’d get ten of my most pessimistic friends to develop a list of EVERY single thing that could go wrong! And, I’d want to either conscientiously decide to accept the risk, or I’d want a contract. If I was out of work, then the risk calculation would be different.

I know for sure that I would not trust ANY big biz, any more than I trust any politician. Which is never!

Once you’ve gotten an offer letter and responded. Those are the terms. How “cold and hungry” you are will determine if you accept it? If they want you more than you want them, then you can hold out for more. BUT, get it in writing.

When I took a “dicey job” without one, I got slammed. So, now I ask. Implicit in the asking is you’re saying “i don’t trust you”. If you can do it without being insulting, you might even get it. If they won’t give it to you, you have to ask yourself “why won’t they give it to me”. Then you get the answer, “because i can not trust them!”.

Argh!

fjohn

***End Quote***

YMMV

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