March 30, 2014

when I took finance classes in the 70's....

the dogma of profit maximization was all in vogue. Being young and naive and scared to piss off my professor, I just kept my head down and got my grade.

Profit maximization, of course, implies paying people as little as possible. THIS is why unregulated capitalism is evil.

March 30, 2014

If the computer hardware god/goddess came along and gave you $770 cash....

plus tax if applicable and shipping (no net out of pocket for you)...

would you buy this card ?

EVGA 03G-P4-2888-KR GeForce GTX 780 Ti Dual Classified w/ EVGA ACX Cooler 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487007

If that god/goddess did, sure. Since I'm not that lucky, I guess I'll pass.

March 30, 2014

Unbelievable Photos Show Kabul's Dramatic Transformation From Battlefield To Modern Metropolis

http://www.businessinsider.com/kabul-present-day-2014-3?op=1

44 pics in all, so much clicking.

eta: new link

March 30, 2014

Canadian high Arctic fascinates me

For example, Eureka is -33 F right now and Alert is -15 F. I'm sure Alert is "warmer" because it's right next to the Arctic Ocean.

/weather geek off

March 29, 2014

When will the Republican Party moderate to survive ?

Only curious. Fine with me if they go extinct. Note: "Other" category since I know this poll is flawed.

Moderate = move a bit to the left to attract more "independents" and some "Reagan Democrats".

March 29, 2014

GOTV ! :)

Go Dems ! Go Obama ! Let's win the Senate AND House in 2014 !

March 29, 2014

Flashback- Obama: Bankruptcy Plan Will Let GM 'Rise Again'

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104776786

June 01, 2009 7:24 AM

Declaring the government "a reluctant shareholder," President Obama said Monday that pushing General Motors Corp. into bankruptcy was a strategy designed to create a more viable company, rather than one that was a continued drain on taxpayers.

Hours after the automaker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, Obama embraced a company restructuring plan that includes closing or idling an additional 14 plants, producing more cars domestically and focusing on the production of fuel-efficient cars.

"Working with my auto task force, GM and its stakeholders have produced a viable, achievable plan that will give this iconic American company a chance to rise again," the president said at a White House news conference. "It's a plan tailored to the realities of today's auto market, a plan that positions GM to move toward profitability, even if it takes longer than expected for our economy to fully recover."

The plan calls for the U.S. government to increase its investment in GM by $30 billion, for a total of $50 billion in aid, giving the government a 60 percent stake in the company, Obama said. Still, he underscored that he has no interest in getting into the auto manufacturing industry.


GOTV 2014 ! GO DEMS !

March 29, 2014

Not everyone who attends an AA/Rational Recovery/etc meeting IS truly an alcoholic....

I think that's an important point to be made. Some are "abusive drinkers", but not truly addicted. Huge difference between an "abusive drinker" and a bona-fide alcoholic. Abusive drinker = not physically addicted but drinks too much at times, can still walk away from alcohol pretty easily. The physically addicted are the real deal, the real hard core alcoholics who will have a ghastly withdrawal and who will probably need hospitalization.

March 29, 2014

Deputies: Relatives stole $870,000 from blind, elderly man with dementia

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-03-28/news/os-elder-exploitation-daughter-accused-stealing-fr-20140328_1_dementia-relatives-deputies

Relatives of a hard-of-hearing, legally blind 80-year-old widower with dementia were arrested Friday after a six-month investigation revealed that they misappropriated at least $870,000 of his money, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The man's daughter, Cynthia Lane Thomas, 58; her husband, Richard Henry Thomas, 57; and Richard Thomas' son, Richard Aaron Thomas, 33, were jailed on charges of exploitation of an elderly person and first-degree grand theft.

The man's daughter-in-law told investigators that the victim, Richard Chadwick, gave Cynthia Thomas power of attorney, and she then cleaned out his bank accounts and used the money to pay off her mortgage and fund two start-up businesses, according to detectives.

Deputy sheriffs estimate that about $2.8 million of Chadwick's money was spent between 2010 and 2013, but the Thomases are charged with taking about $871,000.

March 29, 2014

Arrest sheds light on 'upscale' escort business

(old article but interesting)

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-03-05/news/os-upscale-prostitution-business-20140305_1_mbi-director-larry-zwieg-downtown-orlando-agents

Christina Lynn Davis told agents she made up to $80,000 a month as an "escort" for businesses such as "Ashley's Playmates."

Jennifer Helen Richmond, her friend and another suspected prostitute, said she earned $500,000 in one year.

Davis and Richmond brought in so much cash to their "upscale" prostitution ring that they hid the money in the air vents at their apartment near downtown Orlando and stashed more in storage units, records show.

The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation has been investigating the ring for years, but it wasn't until recently that serious charges were filed.