marți, 6 decembrie 2011

Damn Cool Pics

Damn Cool Pics


No Pants Subway Ride 2011

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 08:39 PM PST



In New York, On Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 10th Annual No Pants Subway Ride had over 3,500 participants, spread out over six meeting points and ten subway lines.

The No Pants Subway Ride is annual event staged by Improv Everywhere every January in New York City. The mission started as a small prank with seven guys and has grown into an international celebration of silliness, with dozens of cities around the world participating each year. The idea behind No Pants is simple: Random passengers board a subway car at separate stops in the middle of winter without pants. The participants do not behave as if they know each other, and they all wear winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. The only unusual thing is their lack of pants.


The Chromatic Typewriter

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:58 PM PST

Washington-based painter Tyree Callahan replaced the letter keys on a 1937 Underwood Standard typewriter with color pads and hue labels to create a functional painting typewriter, dubbed the Chromatic Typewriter. The typewriter was submitted to the 2012 West Prize competition, a yearly prize voted on by popular opinion.




We Can’t Wait: Historic Fuel Standards and More Efficient Buildings

The White House Tuesday, December 6, 2011
 

We Can’t Wait: Historic Fuel Standards and More Efficient Buildings

We can’t wait on Congress to act – and so this month the Administration has continued to move forward and create a more secure energy future for America.

Last Friday, President Obama joined former President Clinton to announce a $4 billion, joint private and public sector effort to improve the energy efficiency of 1.6 billion square feet of commercial and industrial property – an extension of the Better Buildings Initiative and another investment in clean energy. As the President said, “making our buildings more energy efficient is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways for us to create jobs, save money, and cut down on harmful pollution. It is a trifecta.”

In addition, to build upon the success of landmark national fuel standards, the Administration also proposed a second phase of historic fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for model year 2017-2025 cars and trucks. As consumers pocket increased savings at the pump and we reduce our nation’s dependence on oil, the President continues to deliver on his commitment to building a 21st century clean energy economy.

These actions represent just a snapshot of the Administration’s efforts to promote clean energy. For more information on events and announcements, check out the November highlights below.

Highlights

We Can't Wait: President Obama Announces Nearly $4 Billion Investment in Energy Upgrades to Public and Private Buildings
The President, alongside former President Clinton, announced nearly $4 billion in combined federal and private sector energy upgrades over the next two years as part of the Better Buildings Initiative.

We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Proposes Historic Fuel Economy Standards
Building on President Obama’s historic national program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) formally unveiled their joint proposal to set stronger fuel economy and greenhouse gas pollution standards for model year 2017-2025 passenger cars and light trucks. When combined with other historic steps this Administration has taken to increase energy efficiency, this proposal will save Americans over $1.7 trillion at the pump, over $8,000 per vehicle by 2025. Taken together, these actions will also slash 6 billion metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the programs.

We Can't Wait: Navy and USDA Announce Largest Ever Government Purchase of Biofuel
U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) signed a contract to purchase 450,000 gallons of advanced drop-in biofuel, the single largest purchase of biofuels in government history.

EPA Proposes Changes to Clean Air Act Standards for Boilers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed changes that achieve extensive public health protections through significant reductions in toxic air pollutants, including mercury and soot, while increasing the rule’s flexibility and addressing compliance concerns. These standards will avoid up to 8,100 premature deaths, prevent 5,100 heart attacks and avert 52,000 asthma attacks per year in 2015.  As a result, EPA estimates that for every dollar spent to cut these pollutants, the public will see $12 to $30 in health benefits.

Clean Air and Electricity Delivery
We can have clean air and reliable electricity at the same time. That’s the clear conclusion from a new report by the Department of Energy (DOE) released earlier this month. This confirms what the United States has always experienced in the 40 year history of the Clean Air Act – namely, the ability to safeguard public health without compromising the ability to keep the lights on in communities across the country.

Task Force Releases Final Strategy for Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Continuing the ongoing commitment to the Gulf coast, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force released its final strategy for long term ecosystem restoration following extensive feedback from citizens throughout the region.  With the release of the final strategy, the Task Force marks the beginning of the implementation phase of the strategy by announcing new initiatives, including $50 million in assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to help agricultural producers in seven Gulf Coast river basins improve water quality, increase water conservation and enhance wildlife habitat.

Significant Leasing Reform will Spur Commercial, Residential and Renewable Energy Development on Indian Lands
The Obama administration announced new rules that make home building easier, and pave the way for solar and wind energy projects, for Indian Country.

2012 Annual Fuel Economy Guide
The Department of Energy (DOE) in association with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2012 Annual Fuel Economy Guide, providing consumers with information that can help them choose a more efficient new vehicle that saves them money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Get Updates

To learn more about the President’s vision for a more secure energy future, please visit WhiteHouse.gov/energy.

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How Much Do SEO Consultants & Agencies Charge? A Survey that Needs Your Help

How Much Do SEO Consultants & Agencies Charge? A Survey that Needs Your Help


How Much Do SEO Consultants & Agencies Charge? A Survey that Needs Your Help

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:03 PM PST

Posted by randfish

In the past few months, a number of folks have brought up this old blog post of mine on SEO pricing. The now 4-year-old content there is in dire need of refreshing, but I don't think that my personal opinion and experience are of acceptable quality to make for a compelling, useful update. Thus, I've created the following survey.

If you own, manage or work at a consultancy/agency in the SEO or adjoining+overlapping fields, your participation is tremendously appreciated.

 

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

 

The results from this survey will be made available to everyone in a blog post that will replace the old one in the next week. Company names and websites will be removed to help protect the privacy of those who've participated (and we're not asking for any highly sensitive items like revenues or client lists).

It's my hope that this new resource can help agencies and consultants as they compare their prices to the distributions of others as well as helping buyers of SEO and inbound marketing services get a sense for the common cost structures associated with the field.

Thanks for your contribution!

p.s. As you might imagine, changing a survey that's been published and collected results is very hard. However, if you have feedback about the survey format or suggestions to improve it, we'll definitely take those into consideration for our broad industry survey, which we'll be launching again in early 2012.


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Giving Everyone a Fair Shot

The White House Your Daily Snapshot for
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011
 

Giving Everyone a Fair Shot

Today President Obama will speak at Osawatomie High School in Kansas about the choice we face as a country-- to allow too few to do well while too many struggle to get by, or to give everyone a fair shot.

Watch President Obama speak at 1:55 p.m. EST on WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class. Congress only has 25 days left to take action and extend the payroll tax cut before taxes go up by $1000 dollars on the typical American family.

25 Days

In Case You Missed It

Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog

President Obama Welcomes 2011 Kennedy Center Honorees to the White House
This year’s honorees are singer Barbara Cook, singer and songwriter Neil Diamond, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins and actress Meryl Streep.

The Clock is Ticking
If Congress doesn't act before the end of the year, taxes for the middle class will go up. Check out our countdown clock to see how much time is left and tax cut calculator to see what this will mean for you and your family.

President Obama Urges Congress to Extend and Expand the Payroll Tax cut
President Obama stopped by the White House press briefing room to talk about the fight to extend the payroll tax cut.

Today's Schedule

All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).

9:35 AM: The President departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews

9:50 AM: The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route Kansas City

12:25 PM: The President arrives Kansas City, MO

1:55 PM: The President delivers remarks on the economy WhiteHouse.gov/live

4:25 PM: The President departs Kansas City, MO en route Joint Base Andrews

6:35 PM: The President arrives Joint Base Andrews

6:50 PM: The President arrives the White House

WhiteHouse.gov/live
Indicates that the event will be live-streamed on WhiteHouse.gov/Live

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Seth's Blog : Getting serious about the attention economy

Getting serious about the attention economy

First, to restate the obvious:

Attention from those interested and able to buy is worth more now than ever before. Companies like Google, Amazon, Daily Candy, Netflix, Target, and on and on traffic in attention. It's their primary asset. Individuals are also valued and respected in large measure by the quality of attention and trust they earn from their publics.

So, if that's so obvious, why are we so cavalier about it?

If someone stood in front of your office and lit $100 bills from your petty cash kitty on fire, you'd call the cops. But people at work waste the attention of their peers and your customers/prospects at the drop of a hat.

Every interaction comes with a cost. Not in cash money, but in something worth even more: the attention of the person you're interacting with. Waste it--with spam, with a worthless offer, with a lack of preparation, and yes, with nervous dissembling, then you are unlikely to get another chance.

 

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luni, 5 decembrie 2011

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis


Donald Trump's Self-Serving Circus Sideshow; Gingrich Fawns Over Trump; Mish Proposes an Alternative Debate

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:00 PM PST

Donald Trump has invited all the Republican presidential candidates to a debate. Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman promptly and properly turned down the offer.

In contrast, Newt Gingrich, hoping for a Trump endorsement, made a pilgrimage to Donald.

One must understand upfront this is not a gracious offer by Donald Trump to conduct a a fair debate. This is a self-serving promotion by Don Trump, for Don Trump, to put none other than Don Trump into the spotlight as kingmaker.

In Response to Trump's Offer Ron Paul's campaign chairman said "The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office's history and dignity.

Mr. Trump's participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump's participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere".

Ron Paul Jabs Trump

The Huffington Post reports Ron Paul Jabs Donald Trump: 'I Didn't Know He Had The Ability To Anoint People'
"I don't understand the marching to his office. I didn't know he had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people," said Paul on CNN's "State of the Union."

The row between the two began when Paul announced he'd be boycotting the Dec. 27 GOP presidential debate because Trump was chosen to moderate it.

Paul's position in the race seems to be on the rise. A Des Moines Register poll found Paul pulling ahead of Mitt Romney in Iowa, securing the second place spot behind Newt Gingrich.

Matt Dowd, former campaign strategist for President George W. Bush, recently said he would not be at all surprised if Paul wins the Iowa caucuses.

Gingrich Fawns Over Trump

There is only one candidate that has sucked up to Trump's self-serving offer. That person is Newt Gingrich.

Please consider Republicans Critical of Trump Debate
Republican strategists on Monday bemoaned the prospect of a presidential debate hosted by Donald Trump even as Newt Gingrich, surging in recent polls, made a pilgrimage to see Mr. Trump, a billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star.

Mr. Gingrich arrived Monday at Trump Tower in New York to a crush of media, the latest Republican presidential candidate to court Mr. Trump. Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and other candidates have also made the trip.

"Donald Trump is a great showman," Mr. Gingrich told reporters after his closed-door meeting.

Mr. Gingrich has accepted an invitation by Mr. Trump to participate in a debate days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. But leading Republican strategists and campaign officials on Monday condemned a Trump-moderated debate as a spectacle that would do more harm to the party than good.

Mr. Trump grabbed headlines this year by seizing on the "birther" issue, questioning where President Obama was born, and he continues to dangle the idea of an independent bid for the White House next year.

Karl Rove, the former political adviser to President George W. Bush, railed against the idea of a debate hosted by Mr. Trump. In an appearance on Fox News on Monday, Mr. Rove called on Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, to put a stop to the debate.

"What the heck are the Republican candidates doing showing up at a debate with a guy who says 'I may run for president next year as an independent,'" Mr. Rove said. "I think the Republican National chairman ought to step in and say we strongly discourage every candidate from appearing."
Mish Proposes an Alternative Debate

There is no need to stop the Trump circus. Let Gingrich go. If Romney wants to go too, let him. The two can debate to their heart's content with a Circus-Clown Pseudo-Republican "Great Showman" as the moderator.

Meanwhile, let's have another debate without distractions like Don Trump. More importantly, let's have a real debate without distractions like Newt Gingrich and any other Republican fools willing to fawn all over Don Trump as if Trump's "power to anoint" was worth a plug nickel.

Hello News Organizations...

Is there any news organization willing to sponsor an alternate debate, a real debate, preferably one that gives equal response time to candidates Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman?

After all, Paul and Huntsman are the only candidates with enough common sense to see what the proposal by Trump is really all about, and promptly decline the offer.

Also note that both Paul and Huntsman, unlike the other candidates have put forth serious economic proposals. Moreover, neither is likely to start another major war.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List


S&P Places 15 Eurozone Countries, Including Germany and France, on Credit Watch Negative

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:43 PM PST

In a move sure to antagonize EU officials the S&P put 15 Eurozone countries on "Credit Watch Negative".
The ratings agency placed the ratings of 15 euro zone countries, including top-rated nations Germany and France, on credit watch negative -- a move that signals a possible downgrade in no later than three months.

S&P said, however, it expects to conclude its review "as soon as possible" following this week's summit of EU leaders on Friday.

The action was "prompted by our belief that systemic stresses in the eurozone have risen in recent weeks to the extent that they now put downward pressure on the credit standing of the eurozone as a whole," the ratings agency said in a statement.
There are 17 Eurozone nations and Greece is already rated CC (near-default). Given that Cyprus was downgraded recently, this is an effective downgrade of every country in the Eurozone.

Expect France to bitch loudly tomorrow.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List


Decade-Long European Recession Coming Up; Reflections on the Un-Level Playing Field

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 12:43 PM PST

If French president Nicolas Sarkozy gets his wish to "Level the Playing Field" on sovereign bonds, a decade-long European recession is on its way.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy made it clear in a speech in Toulon last week that he wanted the private sector to be given a more-level playing field when it came to the threat of having to bear losses on their investments.

He said Greece, where there have been drawn-out negotiations between the government and the private sector over how much of a hit banks and insurance companies should take under a debt restructuring, should be a unique case.

"It must be clear that what has been done for Greece, in a very particular context, will not happen again, that no other state in the euro zone will be put into default," he said.

"It must be absolutely clear that in future no saver will lose a cent on the reimbursement of a loan to a euro zone country."
Reflections on the Un-Level Playing Field

What could possibly be more un-level than guaranteeing banks and bondholders will never take losses? When there are more losses, and there will be, the only way to guarantee banks do not take them, is to have someone else take them, namely taxpayers.

While pondering that, take look at the action in Portuguese bonds.

Portugal 10-Year Government Bonds



Portugal 2-Year Government Bonds



Do either of those charts suggest there will be no more losses? If there are, who will pay them?

If Sarkozy gets his wish, taxpayers, not bondholders will pay the price.The same holds true for Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and Italy.

The only true way to level the playing field is to make banks and bondholders who take foolish risks to pay the price for their foolish actions.

Monti's "Save Italy" Package Sure to Cause "Super Recession"

Yesterday I wrote Monti's "Save Italy" Package Sure to Cause "Super Recession"
Super Mario has a five-point plan to "Save Italy".

  1. Raise more than 10 billion euros from a new property tax
  2. Impose a new tax on luxury items like yachts
  3. Raise value added tax
  4. Crack down on tax evasion
  5. Increase the pension age

The above package was dubbed the "Save Italy" package by Prime Minister Mario Monti. Supposedly it will boost growth.

While I agree pension reform is much needed, there is not a single thing in the package to boost growth. Italy is in recession. Raising taxes in a recession is the last thing you want to do, yet four of Monti's five ideas raise taxes.

This proposal may temporarily placate the bond market, but Italy is headed for one "super recession" if Mario's mix of idiotic tax hikes passes. Instead, Italy needs to cut wasteful government spending and lower taxes.
For there to be no more losses, we will need still more austerity measures in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Germany.

Spanish unemployment is 22.6%, a 15-year high. Greek unemployment is a record 18.4%. What will more austerity measures do and what will cramming losses on taxpayers do to those rates?

The EU needs to reflect on the consequences of Sarkozy's ludicrous proposal to "un-level" the risks on piss poor lending decisions.

Two Consequences In Order

  1. Europe will slide into a multi-year recession
  2. Voters in Greece, Spain, Portugal (likely all) will have had enough

Then .... Eventually, Will Come a Time When ....

Eventually, there will come a time when a populist office-seeker will stand before the voters, hold up a copy of the EU treaty and (correctly) declare all the "bail out" debt foisted on their country to be null and void. That person will be elected.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List


Daily Show on "Free Money"

Posted: 05 Dec 2011 10:31 AM PST

Jon Stewart on the Daily Show went after the Bernanke Fed last week following the disclosure by Bloomberg of $7.7 trillion lent to US banks on which they made billions of dollars in profit, at no risk.



Link is video does not play: Secret TARP program explained

For more facts on which banks were involved and to what extent, please see Banks Make $13 Billion on $7.7 Trillion in Secret Fed Loans; SEC Stands by Does Nothing.

The most puzzling aspect about the Bloomberg revelation is why there is not more public ire against Congress, the Fed, and banks over this.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List