Figure this while GM (and possibly Ford) prepare to crash and burn in Michigan

"Toyota Considers Michigan As Site for New Engine Plant," by Norihiko Shirouzu, The Wall Street Journal,  January 7, 2006; Page A2 --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113660037058840541.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

"Is There a Future in Ford's Future?," by Micheline Maynard, The New York Times, January 8, 2006 --- http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/08/business/yourmoney/08ford.html 

The difficulty of his task was underscored just last week, when Standard & Poor's cut Ford's credit rating an additional two notches deeper into junk status, moving the company even further away from regaining the top investment grade rating it had used as a competitive tool throughout much of the 1980's and 1990's.

Book Review
"The decline of the US economy:  Three Billion New Capitalists," by Clyde Prestowitz, Asia Times, December 17, 2005 --- http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/GL17Dj01.html

This is a first-class book with a sober and penetrating analysis of global arrangements and the US role in them. The author is well informed, with quite critical views of the future of the US.

The source of the problems is not that the US has lost its democratic innocence and plunged recklessly into the Iraq war, as bemoaned in recent books and articles by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former president Jimmy Carter's national security

adviser. Neither is it that the US retained its capitalist predatory nature and engaged in war and exploitation of the rest of the globe, including polluting the environment - the point of the American left

The reason is the US is in the process of losing its position as the major economic power. Author Prestowitz has actually destroyed one of the essential myths of American civilization, the myth of American efficiency.

This myth has always been related to the image of capitalism - and America has been the very embodiment of capitalism. This capitalism is brutal in a social-Darwinistic way and can also be militarily weak. Indeed, for generations, Americans have agreed that they are not militaristic and can be beaten by others, but never economically.

During the Cold War, the Soviets were accepted as military but not as economic peers. And it is only now that fundamental changes are occurring - America is increasingly losing its economic standing in regard to the rest of the world. In fact, the US is starting to be pressed hard on not just one but several economic fronts, including those of whose very existence most Americans have not been aware.

This is, for example, the case with Europe. With fresh views on American/European economic rivalry, the author follows a line that one cannot easily find in the US mass media. The media usually present Europe as a stagnating, declining economy that cannot carry the heavy task of a protective safety net for Europe's citizens. This stagnant semi-socialist group of countries is juxtaposed to the dynamic, vibrant, albeit tough, America.

The author has discarded this notion. With a close look at statistical data, he has concluded that Europe is economically not far behind the US. Moreover, in some key areas, Europe is actually ahead. For example, in the author's view, the US is in a process of erosion of its industrial skeleton, while the European picture is much brighter.

Moreover, European industrial goods have retained their reputation of high quality and thus make it possible for Europeans to sell their goods to China, for example, despite what seems to be prohibitive prices because of the euro exchange rate.

With all the importance of the European economy, it is not Europe that constitutes the major threat for the American economy. The battering ram that could destroy it is coming from Asia, mostly China. The American economy is increasingly unable to compete with Asian goods, and the situation will be worse in the future.

Why is this happening? In the view of the author, it is mostly due to globalization. At the beginning of the post-Cold War era, globalization was hailed in the US as a blessing that would bring absolute economic and implicitly geopolitical domination. But the reality is quite different. And the author suggests that globalization has led to disaster for the American economy. According to his views, Asia has the ability to acquire the technology and skills to compete with the US in nearly all areas. Cheap labor makes Asian goods even more competitive.

Continued in article

Bob Jensen provides reasons for the decline in U.S. and European efficiency at  --- http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/entitlements.htm
The main problems are entitlements that have been greatly increased under the current leadership in the U.S. and Europe. 

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Question
Will Wikipedia evolve into a successful open sharing Wikiversity?

Answer
See http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikiversity

See the proposal at the proposed projects page which was rushed into existence because of calls to delete the wikiversity pages from Wikibooks. The current location of Wikiversity is Wikibooks:Wikiversity.

This page is a formal project proposal for the Wikiversity project. Please add ideas and thoughts to Talk:Wikiversity. For thoughts/proposals on how to develop Wikiversity, see Moving Wikiversity forward.

Bob Jensen's threads on distance learning alternatives are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/Crossborder.htm

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The Best Retirement Tools
"The Best Retirement Tools:  Investment Options Proliferate As Traditional Pensions Fade; How to Maximize Your Returns," by Jeff D. Opdyke, The Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2006; Page B1 --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113660155056440563.html?mod=todays_us_money_and_investing

Understanding how the various accounts work is paramount, because while saving in a 401(k) remains one of the smartest choices in preparing for retirement, "it's generally not enough," says David Darst, chief investment strategist at Morgan Stanley's retail brokerage division. In fact, Fidelity Investments' annual survey last year of 8.6 million retirement-savings-plan participants found that the average contribution rate is 7%, an amount that most planners agree won't get most people through their retirement. Financial planners generally recommend individuals save at least 10% of their salary toward retirement.

For a savvy investor, the most important first step is always the 401(k) plan itself. If your employer offers to match a portion of your contributions to a retirement plan, "take every nickel and put it there, and save up to the company match; this is free money," says Lee Baker, president of Apex Financial Services, a Tucker, Ga., financial-planning shop.

After meeting the company match, financial planners almost universally agree, workers should consider shoveling the maximum amount they can into a Roth IRA, if they are eligible.

A Roth IRA is an account that lets individuals save for retirement by putting money aside and letting it grow. Although contributions to a Roth IRA are taxed now, the withdrawals are tax-free. By contrast, in a traditional IRA, investors can deduct their annual contributions, up to a certain limit, meaning they get a break on their federal, state or local taxes. However, the government takes its cut -- at ordinary income rates -- as retirees withdraw the money.

Continued in article

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Don't rush out to buy a VoIP Wi-Fi Phone
At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, at least three companies are introducing cordless phones that use a Wi-Fi connection to make calls over eBay’s Skype Internet phone service (a technology sometimes known as “VoIP,” for voice-over-Internet protocol).
"Phone a Friend over Wi-Fi:  A new Wi-Fi phone from Vonage is fun -- but it doesn’t make sense as a replacement for the cell phone," MIT's Technology Review, January 6, 2006 --- http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_16122,258,p1.html
 

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New "buckypaper" material 10 times lighter than steel—but 250 times stronger
Working with a material 10 times lighter than steel—but 250 times stronger—would be a dream come true for any engineer. If this material also had amazing properties that made it highly conductive of heat and electricity, it would start to sound like something out of a science fiction novel. Yet one Florida State University research group, the Florida Advanced Center for Composite Technologies (FAC2T), is working to develop real-world applications for just such a material.
Florida State University News, "FSU researcher's "buckypaper" is stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight," January 2006 --- http://www.fsu.edu/news/2005/10/20/steel.paper/

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"German TV Documentary:  LBJ Knew Cubans Killed JFK," Newsmax, January 5, 2006 --- http://newsmax.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/1/5/02010.shtml

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Scientists discover that brains are much more adaptable than was thought previously
Scientists once thought that the adult brain was set in its ways. Now they're discovering that adult neurons have a remarkable ability to grow and change -- researchers at MIT have shown that some neurons can sprout new branches and retract old ones.
"Old Brains Learn New Tricks," MIT's Technology Review, January 4, 2006 --- http://www.technologyreview.com/BioTech/wtr_16111,259,p1.html

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From NPR
Tory Dent's Poetry on Life with AIDS --- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5081654

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Aftermath of the Fiery Rampage in France: Gang terrorizes train in France
PARIS -- A gang of more than 20 youths -- thought to be North African immigrants -- terrorized hundreds of train passengers in a rampage of violence, robbery and sexual assault on New Year's Day, French officials said yesterday. The five-hour-long criminal frenzy was "totally unacceptable," French President Jacques Chirac told reporters. "Those guilty will be found and punished, as they deserve." The gang of between 20 and 30 youths boarded the train, heading from Nice on the French Riviera to Lyon, in eastern France, early on Jan. 1, as it carried 600 passengers home from New Year's Eve partying overnight.
"Gang terrorizes train in France," by Marc Burleigh, Washington Times, January 5, 2006 --- http://www.washtimes.com/world/20060104-115755-9546r.htm

Jensen Comment
The times are ripe for more serious terrorism in France.  Even though over half the criminals in French prisons are Middle Eastern and North African immigrants, the French are still afraid of severe legal reprisals and serious deterrents to terror.

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"Symptoms & Burn-Out Prevention," AccountingWeb, January 3, 2006 ---
http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=101624

Good quality employees should be appreciated for their contributions to your business. Ultimately, they are motivated, accept challenges easily most of the time, are pleasant in stressful situations, and their work ethics encourage others to reach their level of contribution and participation. The downside is that the opportunity for burn out exists in every organization, no matter the industry, or size of the business, according to Entrepreneur.com. A single burnt-out employee can affect the productivity of your business. The signs are usually easy to identify, according to Entrepreneur.com. The motivation and non-performance can be turned around, but the adage, “You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” is also true with people. All the motivation aimed at changing a behavior may not make a difference if the one who is not motivated does not want to be motivated.

Diminished productivity, compared to previous performances, is a first indicator that an employee may be unmotivated or burning out, according to Entrepreneur.com. You may also see an increased number of days missed, barring days that they may be sick at home. Lack of motivation may be the culprit if one rarely misses work. Changes in attitude and productivity, decreasing positive interaction with others in the office, and jittery or short-tempered reactions, may be other indicators.

After noting any of these indicators, you may want to speak with previous managers or supervisors, or seek information in past performance reviews, to determine if this is a trend or a bump in their performance. Entrepreneur.com suggests speaking with the employee directly. You can ask for their own perception of their performance and then share your perspective of the changes that you see.

You can ask the person what motivating factors may be missing or are no longer present in the workplace. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, according to Entrepreneur.com. Ask about areas of work where the individual gains a sense of accomplishment. Recognize jobs well done, or works in progress, with positive feedback or rewarding behavior. Above all, employees should also know what is expected of them to ensure positive performance.

Outside of speaking with individual employees, opportunities for personal or professional growth go a long way to employees seeing your commitment to them. Communication should be frequent. If a job or task is too challenging for an employee, you can exchange or rotate tasks or responsibilities between several employees. Cross-training can provide a different perspective and new challenges to ultimately energize employees. Optimal job satisfaction and productivity, and increased motivation are the goal.

Job satisfaction and retention can be improved by offering flexible work arrangements which allow employees to balance and manage the demands of work and family. The Social Science Research Network reports this work arrangement has proven to allow the worker to control and reduce their levels of stress. One benefit of increasing retention in your business is that your training costs are better spent.

Individuals can do several things themselves when they realize their own burn-out or near burn-out indicators. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recommends that you notice the stress and the ways it manifests itself in you, without denial or excuses. You can change your surroundings, be it your job, your relationship, or situation. Learn to say no and refuse or reschedule demands on your time. You can learn to delegate and pace yourself in order to better balance the facets of your life. Most of all, keep your sense of humor.

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Question
What drives certain co-workers to talk incessantly?

Answer
"How to Shush the Office Magpie ," by Matt Villano, The New York Times, December 25, 2005 --- http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/business/yourmoney/25advi.html

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The (worldwide) Epidemic of Ethnic Rape
A number of teenaged Australian girls were subjected to hours of sexual degradation during a spate of gang rapes in Sydney that occurred between 1998 and 2002. And the perpetrators of these assaults framed the rationale for their actions in explicitly ethnic terms. The young victims were informed that they were “sluts” and “Aussie pigs” while they were being hunted down and abused. In the NSW Supreme Court in December 2005, a visiting Pakistani rapist testified that his victims had no right to say no because they were not wearing a headscarf.
"The Epidemic of Ethnic Rape," FrontPageMagazine, December 27, 2005  --- http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=20646

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Question
When is racial profiling acceptable?

Answer
Apparently when it comes to efforts to alter teen sexual behavior.

The Romney administration plans to introduce a new abstinence education program in Massachusetts schools beginning next month, the state's most aggressive effort yet to use a controversial method of teaching Bay State teenagers about sex ... The campaign, scheduled to last through June 2007, will only target certain schools and will be aimed especially at teens in black and Hispanic communities, who tend to have higher rates of sexual activity. The proposal by the state Department of Health, quietly posted on its website earlier this month, would add an abstinence education program for 12-to-14-year-olds in an unspecified number of schools. The campaign would be funded by a $50 million federal abstinence-only grant program, which provides money to states for initiatives that teach abstinence but deliberately do not address condoms and other methods of contraception.
Scot Helman, "State to push abstinence in schools," The Boston Globe, December 21, 2005 --- http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/21/state_to_push_abstinence_in_schools/

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Is there organized crime in New Jersey's colleges?
Leaders of New Jersey’s public colleges are increasingly under the microscope, from both federal and state officials. On January 1, an order by Gov. Richard Codey took effect, preventing leaders at the state’s 31 public institutions from doing business, directly or indirectly, with the institutions they govern or by which they are employed. Just a week earlier, the federal government enlisted a former U.S. attorney, Herbert Stern, as a monitor to oversee the finances of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Rob Capriccioso, "Clamping Down on Corruption" Inside Higher Ed, January 5, 2006 --- http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/01/05/nj

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Fingerprint requirement to reduce fraud in taking the GMAT examination
The Graduate Management Admission Test, used by business schools for admission to MBA programs, will now use fingerprinting to assure test security. People taking a test will have to provide a fingerprint when they check in and every time they enter a testing room. Digital photographs will also be required. The revamped procedures are part of a new partnership between the Graduate Management Admission Council, Pearson VUE, and ACT.
Inside Higher Ed, January 5, 2006 --- http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/01/05/qt

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As Chechen Illness Spreads, Authorities Remain Baffled By Mystery 'Poisoning'
More than 70 people -- most of them schoolchildren, and all but a handful of them girls -- have now been affected by a mysterious ailment in an eastern district of Russia's war-torn republic of Chechnya. During the past week, residents have been struck by sudden bouts of tremors, nausea, and shortness of breath. Some doctors have reported incidents of psychotic episodes, with patients experiencing panic attacks or mania. Some regional authorities have said the illness is suggestive of nerve-gas poisoning. But toxicologists have reportedly found no evidence to substantiate the claim. RFE/RL reports on what may be behind Chechnya's apparent mystery poisoning.
"Russia: As Chechen Illness Spreads, Authorities Remain Baffled By Mystery 'Poisoning'," Radio Free Europe, December 22, 2005 --- http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/12/2C14BD4F-EA94-4203-92A9-A637B00309AE.html

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The Diamond Rating Scandals:  Did you pay to much for a diamond?
I'll just bet you also bought those phony premium Lean Macleans pawned off at McDonalds Restaurants.
The still-unfolding scandal over diamond ratings is fueling anxiety among both jewelers and jewelry customers. Laboratory workers at the leading rater of diamonds in the world, the Gemological Institute of America, are being accused of taking bribes to give higher-than-deserved ratings to stones. The GIA, which in October fired four lab workers after a four-month internal investigation, says only a handful of rogue dealers and a relatively small number of stones were involved. But the institute isn't saying how many stones may have bogus ratings. The incident has diamond buyers around the world wondering if they overpaid for their purchase.
Ann Zimmerman and Raymud Flandez, "Getting a Second Opinion On Your Diamond:  Bogus Ratings on Some Gems Fuel Anxiety Among Buyers; GIA Offers Free Reappraisals," The Wall Street Journal,  December 21, 2005; Page D1

. . .

Diamonds are graded by the GIA after being inspected under a microscope for internal flaws, and the color is measured against a set of master stones reflecting the spectrum of color ratings. Three graders look at the diamond independently and then the stone is given a grading report, or certificate, that lists its color and clarity rating, in addition to its weight and cut.

Of course, getting an accurate rating is only part of the challenge. Consumers need to make sure they aren't paying too much for a stone that has been properly rated. They can turn to resources such as Diamondhelpers.com, a consumer-focused Web site that doesn't sell diamonds. It has a price finder where consumers can enter information from the diamond's certificate -- such as color, cut, carat weight and clarity grade -- and get an idea of its value.

The diamond-grading scandal erupted after a prominent diamond dealer filed a lawsuit earlier this year charging that workers at the GIA lab in New York had improperly graded stones sold in 2001 for $15 million to members of the Saudi royal family. The Saudis later had an independent evaluation done and got their money back. The GIA is on the brink of settling the lawsuit, say people familiar with the situation.

Joseph Tacopina, the attorney representing the diamond dealer in the lawsuit, says that he has gotten calls from dozens of consumers worried about the accuracy of the grading certificates on their diamonds. He understands their concern. "A difference in just two levels of a grade can mean a lot of money and the average consumer, of course, can't tell the difference," says Mr. Tacopina.

Jonathan Grella, a Washington PR executive, says he has definitely taken note of the scandal. He became engaged just two weeks ago, after months of learning the ropes about buying a diamond.

"I learned that a certificate is a must," he says, adding that he isn't sure whether he will get the ring reevaluated by another lab.

"This could send shock waves, not just through the jewelry and insurance industries," he says. "Can you imagine, going back to your bride-to-be and saying, 'I don't mean to alarm you, but the ring may not be what the certificate says it is.' That could make for some interesting holiday conversation."

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What Steven Spielberg's "Munich" Leaves Out
For a closer reconstruction of reality, one needs to turn to books about the Munich attack and its aftermath, of which a few have been published, not to mention articles and even dissertations. The hunt for the Black September killers -- part of Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization -- has been closely studied wherever counterterrorism is taught these days, both for its achievements and its failures. With "Striking Back," Aaron Klein, a Jerusalem correspondent for Time magazine, has written the fullest and most reliable account so far, although even he acknowledges that "more remains unknown than known."
Walter Laqueur, "Munich Without the Movie," The Wall Street Journal, December 21, 2005; Page D10 --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113512478987827961.html?mod=todays_us_personal_journal

Listen to NPR's review Spielberg's movie at at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5067266

The New Jewish Studies
Scholars from growing, changing field gather to consider what’s hot, how to study Israel, and how they fit into multiculturalism.
Scott Jaschik, "The New Jewish Studies," Inside Higher Ed, December 21, 2005 --- http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/21/jewish

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Fraudulent (Supposed) Publishers and Phony Contests (especially targeting poets) --- http://www.foetry.com/ 

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Must-Have Holiday Hardware Upgrades
A few caveats: I've tested many--but not all--of the products listed here myself. And while I obviously want a blazing-fast system, my purpose isn't to build the ultimate bleeding-edge PC, so I didn't just throw together a list of the newest, most-expensive components available (where's the fun in that?). Finally, all of the prices I list here are from reputable dealers I found on PC World's ProductFinder , and they're accurate as of December 8.
Tom Mainelli, "Must-Have Holiday Hardware Upgrades:  The Geek's annual list of what he wants for his next PC," PC World by way of The Washington Post, December 17, 2--5 --- http://snipurl.com/MustHave2005 

Overrated, Underrated (includes technologies of 2005)
See http://www.internetweek.cmp.com/showArticle.jhtml?sssdmh=dm4.161474&articleId=175006769

New High-Tech Gadgets
Want to make sure your gift list includes the latest and greatest? We've come up with the hottest, highest-tech gadgets to give (and get) this year.
Scot Finnie and George Jones, InformationWeek, December 8, 2005 ---
http://internetweek.cmp.com/174910899?sssdmh=dm4.161133

Also see "The Ultimate Geek Gift Guide" --- http://www.wired.com/news/technology/giftguide2005/0,2926,69647,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_11

"Gamers' Gift Guide of 2005 --- http://www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,69840,00.html

"Invention: The inkjet-printer pen," by Barry Fox, New Scientist, December 20, 2005 --- http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8488

The pen of the future will use inkjet technology to deliver a multitude of colours from its tip, according to recent filings from prolific patenter Silverbrook Research in Balmain, Australia.

Inkjet printer heads are now cheaply mass-produced and small enough to fit into the stem of a pen in place of a nib or ballpoint. Silverbrook’s pen body is about as thick as a fountain pen, with a battery-powered microelectromechanical print head near the tip that pumps out fine jets of ink from a replaceable cartridge.

A smooth roller point at the tip of the pen holds the jet at a fixed distance from the paper and pressing the point onto the paper switches the jet on and off. Varying the pressure varies the thickness of the line by controlling the number of jets that pump ink – a hard push makes a thick line and vice versa.

Continued in article

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"A (German) Disgrace," The Wall Street Journal, December 23, 2005; Page A14 --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113530880559630290.html?mod=opinion&ojcontent=otep

Public opinion in Germany has recently been agitated by reports of secret CIA prisons in Europe, which follows indignation about Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. "Torture State America" is how Michael Naumann of the influential weekly newspaper Die Zeit sums up life in the U.S. these days. So it's all the more strange that, when it comes to a torturer in their own midst, Germans have adopted a forgiving attitude.

The torturer in question is Mohammad Ali Hamadi, who last Friday was released from a German prison after serving not quite 19 years of a life sentence. In 1985, Hamadi was among the Hezbollah hijackers who seized TWA Flight 847, held its passengers hostage for 16 days, and murdered 23-year-old U.S. Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem.

But the word "murder" doesn't adequately describe what Hamadi and his crew did to Stethem. "They singled him out because he was American and a soldier," said one eyewitness. "They dragged him out of his seat, tied his hands and then beat him up. . . . They kicked him in the face and knee caps and kept kicking him until they had broken all his ribs. Then they tried to knock him out with the butt of a pistol -- they kept hitting him over the head but he was very strong and they couldn't knock him out. . . . Later, they dragged him away and I believe shot him."

In 1987, Hamadi was detained at Frankfurt airport when customs officials found liquid explosives in his luggage. A U.S. extradition request was denied on grounds that he was liable for the death penalty. Instead, Germany meted out its toughest sentence: Life in prison. But as one German official acknowledged to us, there is no such thing as life imprisonment in Germany. The country's Constitutional Court requires prison officers to review life cases after 15 years and seek reasons for early release, including good behavior and expressions of remorse. Whether Hamadi has expressed remorse the official could not say.

Continued in article

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How people with disabilities and certain medical conditions can have student loans cancelled
Sallie Mae on Friday unveiled a new Web site with information on how people with disabilities and certain medical conditions can have student loans cancelled --- http://www.salliemae.com/

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Some time-changing facts about islands of the coast of Maine

"Maine Islands Weigh Secession from Mainland," NPR, June 9, 2005 --- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4695553

By the Numbers: The Chebeague Island Story
 

• Number of Maine islands with year-round populations in 1900: 300
• Number of Maine islands with year-round populations in 2005: 15
• Number of Maine islands with year-round schools in 2005: 14
• Year-round population of Chebeague Island, Maine: 356
• Estimated summer population of Chebeague Island, Maine: 1,700
• Number of passengers traveling to Chebeague Island on Chebeague Transportation Company ferries in 2004: 151,773

• Number of schoolhouses on Chebeague Island in the late 1800s: 4
• Number of schoolchildren (K-5th grades) in Chebeague Island’s only remaining school in 2005: 23
• Number of schoolchildren (6th-12th grades) from Chebeague Island commuting daily to mainland schools: 22
• Total amount in property taxes Chebeague Islanders will pay in fiscal year 2006 to the mainland school district that educates island children: $1,551,000
• Amount Chebeague Islanders will pay per island student to the mainland school district that educates island children (in fiscal year 2006): $34,466.67
• Approximate annual amount neighboring Long Island pays to educate Long Island schoolchildren: $395,000
• Approximate annual amount Long Island pays per pupil to educate its 31 schoolchildren: $12,700
• Annual per pupil cost for salaries, supplies, equipment and textbooks for students at the Chebeague Island School: $10,652
• Annual per pupil cost for salaries, supplies, equipment and textbooks for mainland elementary school students in the same school district as the Chebeague Island School: $6,066
• Approximate annual savings due to proposed elimination of the 4th and 5th grades at the Chebeague Island School: $50,000
• Proposed 2005-2006 budget for the mainland school district that includes the Chebeague Island School: $23,853,245

• Number of Chebeague Islanders voting to explore secession from the town of Cumberland in May 2005 straw poll: 82
• Number of Chebeague Islanders voting in the May 2005 straw poll: 89

Also see a December 23, 2005 update at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5064424

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The Short Evolution of Intelligent Design "Theory"
In a case watched by scientists nationwide, a federal judge ruled that intelligent design is indelibly tied to its religious underpinnings, and that teaching it in a public school class violates the Constitutional separation of church and state.
David Epstein, "Survival of the Fittest Theory," Inside Higher Ed, December 21, 2005 --- http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/21/evolution

Also see "US court hands down landmark evolution ruling," PhysOrg, December 20, 2005 --- http://www.physorg.com/news9209.html

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Why aren't people using RSS feeds?
I was surprised and pleased by the interest sparked by my recent note about RSS and syndication ("Why Don't More People Use RSS Feeds?"). Surprised, because the point of that note was that hardly anybody uses RSS, and that's pretty much the same as saying nobody gives a darn about it. Turns out people do care about RSS--they're just not using it. Or are they? Officials at KnowNow, a vendor of technology that uses RSS, say that many people use RSS and are unaware that they're doing so. They took issue with a statistic I quoted from Forrester, which found in a September study that only 6% of Internet users are using RSS. KnowNow countered with a white paper from Yahoo that says 31% of Internet users are using RSS--they just don't know it. They're using personalized start pages, such as My Yahoo and My MSN , , , Still, more than two-thirds of Internet users aren't using RSS, and I was gratified to get lots of comments from them explaining why and discussing what needs to happen before they do. I'll include highlights of those comments throughout the rest of this note. Read the rest for those comments, and also to find out how you can get started using RSS. And, as always, we want to hear from you about RSS or any other subjects; leave your comments by following the preceding link. 
Mitch Wagner, "RSS: The Best Technology You're Using After All," InformationWeek Newsletter, December 23, 2005

Bob Jensen's threads on RSS are at http://www.trinity.edu/~rjensen/245glosf.htm#ResourceDescriptionFramework

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The Fast Evolution of Computer Chess:  Computers are Now the Best
But if you're very good and if you don't make a single mistake, you still have a slight chance of winning. You have an even better chance of battling to a draw, says one chess champion. "I find it fun playing computers. The only problem is that the psychological duel does not exist. You cannot bluff. You cannot count on unforced errors," Veselin Topalov, told Reuters. "You have to find a special strategy completely different from what you would do against humans."
"Computers Still Dominate Chess," Wired News, December 20, 2005 --- http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,69882,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_7

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Senator Clinton's Best on MP3
Sen. Clinton is hitting the world of MP3 players with a 14-track best-of-her-speeches album for 2005. But wait, there's more. It will also have her Sen ate statements and press conferences. There's Hillary on health care, on Katrina and on violent video games. Camp Clinton is posting these podcasts on iTunes and other MP3 Internet portals, — all downloadable to iPods and computers for free.
Ian Bishop, "HILLARY JOINS THE IPOD REVOLUTION," The New York Post, December 26, 2005 --- http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/59512.htm 

Video Poetry --- http://www.favoritepoem.org/thevideos/index.html
Includes Hillary Clinton reading The Makers --- http://www.favoritepoem.org/thevideos/hclinton.html 
Click down hard on the picture to commence the video reading!

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Ken Lay's Not Keeping His Mouth Shut:  He even has a personal Website

December 20, 2005 message from December 20, 2005

Bob,

You may have seen this already, but Ken Lay of Enron fame gave a speech last week in Houston. The title is Guilty Until Proven Innocent and in it he makes the case for why CFO Andy Fastow should be blamed for the Enron fraud and not Ken Lay. Lay , Jeff Skilling and Richard Causey of Enron are scheduled to go on trial next month. A copy of Lay's speech is available on his personal website - http://www.kenlayinfo.com/public/CYOFQ534244233.aspx 

Denny

Ken Lay's speech does not quite jive with Ken Lay's secret recipes for legally looting $184,494.426 from the corporation you manage --- http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/FraudEnron.htm#SecretRecipes

"Lay Seeks Help From Former Enron Workers," SmartPros, December 15, 2005 --- http://accounting.smartpros.com/x50980.xml

Bob Jensen's threads on the Enron/Andersen scandals are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/FraudEnron.htm

Bob Jensen's Enron Quiz is at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/FraudEnronQuiz.htm

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Beyond Blogs and Podcasts:  Now we have (video) vLogs
From the Internet counter-culture which spawned blogs and podcasts comes the newest thing in new media: vlogging. In short video diaries and homemade reality shows, vloggers are using the power of cheap online technology to invite strangers into their lives.
"Lights, camera, vlog: new video craze hits Internet," PhysOrg, December 19, 2005 --- http://www.physorg.com/news9156.html 

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Harvard Business School Eliminates Ban on a Graduate's Discretionary Disclosure of Grades
The era of the second-year slump at Harvard Business School is over. Or maybe the days of student cooperation are over. Despite strong student opposition, the business school announced Wednesday that it was ending its ban on sharing grades with potential employers. Starting with new students who enroll in the fall, M.B.A. candidates can decide for themselves whether to share their transcripts. The ban on grade-sharing has been enormously popular with students since it was adopted in 1998. Supporters say that it discouraged (or at least kept to a reasonable level) the kind of cut-throat competition for which business schools are known. With the ban, students said they were more comfortable helping one another or taking difficult courses. But a memo sent to students by Jay O. Light, the acting dean, said that the policy was wrong. “Fundamentally, I believe it is inappropriate for HBS to dictate to students what they can and cannot say about their grades during the recruiting process. I believe you and your classmates earn your grades and should be accountable for them, as you will be accountable for your performance in the organizations you will lead in the future,” he wrote.
Scott Jaschik, "Survival of the Fittest MBA," Inside Higher Ed, December 16, 2005 --- http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/12/16/grades

Also see "Grade Conflation," by Philip Delves Broughton, The Wall Street Journal, December 21, 2005; Page A18 --- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113513478743628190.html?mod=opinion&ojcontent=otep

Attending university in Britain, student politics meant snarling Marxists battling for all-vegan cafeterias and the right to collect unemployment benefits while studying. There would be a couple of wild-haired professors who tried to curry favor with the discontents, but on the whole rulings drifted down from on high carrying the strong odors of port, cigars and institutional disinterest.

At Harvard Business School, things are supposed to be different. People here talk of consultation, collaboration and best practice. Students are encouraged to express their views, to help improve the HBS process. Focus groups, feedback sessions and opinion polls drive any change. But recent events have shown that the rule of philosopher kings is as entrenched on the banks of the Charles as it was in Plato's vision of the ideal city-state. In this cradle of liberal, capitalist thought, democracy is not even at the green-shoots phase. Wise men rule and the mob must accede to their selfless judgment.

At issue has been grade disclosure, whether or not MBA students should be permitted to share their grades with outsiders. Until 1998, students could discuss their grades and potential employers could ask for them. Students were graded, as they are now, on a forced curve with the top 15% to 20% getting a "1," the middle 70% a "2," the bottom 10% a "3." In 1998, however, each MBA class was divided in two and the grading system was felt to confer advantage on one over the other depending where you stood (or something like that).

Continued in article

Bob Jensen's threads on earlier articles and communications on this issue are contained in "Too Good to Grade" at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/assess.htm#NoGrades

Bob Jensen's threads on teaching evaluation controversies and grade inflation --- http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/assess.htm#GradeInflation

Bob Jensen's threads on Controversies in Higher Education are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/HigherEdControversies.htm

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At Stake:  The Internet as We Know It
The Internet has always been a model of freedom. Today the Web is flourishing because anyone can click to any site or download any service they want on an open network. But now the phone and cable companies that operate broadband networks have a different vision. If they get their way, today's Information Highway could be laden with tollgates, express lanes, and traffic tie-ups -- all designed to make money for the network companies.
Catherine Yang, "At Stake:  The Internet as We Know It, Business Week, December 15, 2005 --- http://snipurl.com/BW121505
 

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Brush up your geography ---

GeoQuiz 1.1--- http://www.handmap.net/

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"Hybrid Hard Disks and Beyond," eWeek, December 15, 2005 ---  http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1902320,00.asp
 

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Amtrak:  Traveling Soviet-style aboard America's $30,000,000,000.00 nostalgia toy
Peter Bagge, Amtrak Sucks, Reason Magazine, http://www.reason.com/0512/bagge.shtml

Bob Jensen's threads on Amtrak's real disaster are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/book05q4.htm#Amtrak

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Computer Security Threats On The Rise
A study released by Sophos this week reports that malicious Trojan horse programs made up the majority of the computer security threats that have occurred this year. Red Herring reports that this is the third report in four months to highlight the risk faced by business and home computer users from these cyber threats. Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley told Red Herring, “Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans cannot replicate on their own, meaning that they must be deliberately emailed or planted on web sites in order to spread. Hackers [are using Trojans to gain] access to an infected PC, enabling them to create a zombie, steal information, and dish out their malware from under the nose of unsuspecting users.”
"Computer Security Threats On The Rise," AccounitngWeb, December 9, 2005 ---
http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=101562

Bob Jensen's thread on computer and networking security are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/ecommerce/000start.htm#SpecialSection

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Commission on Graduate Education Report
The framework has been laid. Now it`s time for the real work to begin. That was the message of the Commission on Graduate Education report presented Thursday to the Faculty Senate. After more than a decade of pioneering work to transform the ways in which an undergraduate education is delivered, university officials are turning their attention to graduate education. Although the university offers a top-notch education for graduate students, it can do better to enhance multidisciplinary opportunities, expand leadership training and break down institutional barriers to encourage collaboration among departments, according to the report. ``Part of what [the commission] tried to do here was bring best practices together and hope that they come together to make a better university,`` said Charles Holloway, the Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers Professor of Management, Emeritus.
Stanford News, December 7, 2005 --- http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/december7/graduate-120705.html

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Whiners on the Right:  A new wave of campus PC
Alan Temes, an assistant professor of health and physical education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, was getting good reviews on the job until his politics became an issue. Temes, who opposes the war in Iraq, began posting updates of the body count of US soldiers and Iraqi civilians on a bulletin board near his office. Last April, department chair Elaine Blair emailed Temes advising him to stop posting the notices. Then, Temes claims in a lawsuit, she warned him that continued antiwar protests would hurt his chances of getting tenure. Later, he was denied tenure, despite apparently meeting the qualifications for it.
Cathy Young, "Whiners On the Right:  A new wave of campus PC," Reason Magazine, December 13, 2005 --- http://www.reason.com/cy/cy121305.shtml

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How we may be encouraging insurgents'
Insurgents who pay attention to our debates about the war will notice one thing: We are terrified by death. The authors of the war promised this would be a "clean" invasion in which few would die, while their anti-war opponents obsess over numbers of dead and images of the dead. Both sides have helped to turn death into the defining issue, so it is not surprising that the insurgents should focus on that same issue. From the beginning, Coalition officials advertised their fear of spilling blood, whether Iraqis' or their own. Their unrealistic desire for a bloodless battle was summed up by one journalist as follows: "We want to have a clean, crisp, sanitary war in which we suffer few casualties. We want the unfortunate deaths of civilians removed from the process completely.... And, by the way, we want the entire thing wrapped up by next Thursday." Through their trepidation, officials guaranteed that deaths, when they inevitably occurred, would be taken as evidence that the war had gone horribly wrong.
Brendan O'Neill, "Is Our Empathy Killing Us? How we may be encouraging insurgents' bloody tactics," Reason Magazine, December 9, 2005 --- http://www.reason.com/hod/bo120905.shtml 

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Will woolly mammoths live again?
Hendrik Poinar, a molecular evolutionary geneticist at McMaster University in Hamilton, says ancient DNA obtained from the jawbone of a long-dead Siberian woolly mammoth could be used create a modern version of the animal . . . He and his U.S. colleagues won't be able to clone the female that was found frozen in the permafrost because the DNA they obtained was fractured into so many tiny fragments. But they could create a hybrid of the woolly mammoth and its closest living relative, the Indian elephant. Once researchers have made male and female hybrids, they could breed the animals to obtain as pure a woolly mammoth as possible. "In theory, you could do it," Dr. Poinar says.
Anne McIlroy, "Will woolly mammoths live again?" The Globe and Mail, December 20, 2005 --- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051220.wxmammoth1220/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/

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Google Beating Microsoft Again
Google may soon win the battle against Microsoft for a stake in America Online. The search engine is reportedly in exclusive negotiations to buy a share of the Web portal for $1 billion. If the deal goes through, it could rock the search-portal market. If Google gets its way, then it will be able to offer advertisers just about anything they need online, whether it's banner ads, video advertising or sponsored links in search results. AOL, besides getting a lot of cash, will be able to offer similar products.
Antone Gonsalves, "Google Beating Microsoft Again," InternetWeek Newsletter, December 19, 2005

Google Reportedly Offering To Take A $1 Billion Stake In AOL ---
http://www.internetweek.cmp.com/showArticle.jhtml?sssdmh=dm4.161133&articleId=175004702

The Sale is Confirmed ---
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/20/AR2005122001388.html?referrer=email

Also see http://physorg.com/news9251.html 

Jensen Comment
This is an example of where purchase of a company or a large stake in a company is more valuable for some companies than others due to intangibles.  On the open market, AOL shares are not nearly as valuable to the general public as they are in a block purchase by Google due to the advantage of Google's use of AOL for advertising revenues.  If Google eventually purchases more than a 50% stake in AOL, this would also illustrate how what accountants call "purchased goodwill" may in reality simply be added revenues arising from synergy.  Bob Jensen's threads on the intractable problem of accounting for intangibles are at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen//theory/00overview/theory01.htm#TheoryDisputes

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"Rob Reiner on Comedy: The director and actor talks about the movies that make him laugh," by Candace Jackson, The Wall Street Journal, December 24, 2005; Page P2 ---
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113536762669030711.html?mod=todays_us_pursuits

Annie Hall
This 1977 release starring and directed by Woody Allen is one of Mr. Reiner's favorite films by the director (Mr. Reiner says he's seen it at least 15 times). "He was able to combine what he does best," he says of Mr. Allen's direction, "his twisted vision of men and women and the backdrop of New York."

The Producers
The 1968 Mel Brooks-directed story about the idiosyncrasies of Broadway is another of Mr. Reiner's favorites by a director he cites as hugely influential. "It's just a total original comic mind working," he says. A new film version, based on Mr. Brooks's popular Broadway-musical adaptation, opens this weekend.

Where's Poppa?
Mr. Reiner cites this 1970 release as one of the lesser-known gems directed by his father. (The younger Mr. Reiner had a small role in the film.) "It touches on some real issues of a mother's hold over a son, and how a son tries to get from under the grips of his mother," he says.

It's a Gift
"It's his performance," says Mr. Reiner of W.C. Fields, who stars in this 1934 film about a general-store owner and his status-obsessed wife. "It's so subtle ... that character that he created, this kind of curmudgeonly guy who was always put upon and always disturbed by everything," he says.

Duck Soup
"The funniest of the Marx Brothers films," says Mr. Reiner of this 1933 "wacky political comedy," in which Groucho Marx's character declares war on a neighboring country.

Bob Jensen's threads on video, television, and movies are at --- http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/music.htm#Video

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Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a historic event --- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1546488/posts

WEATHER BULLETIN
Up here in the Northern Plains we just recovered from a Historic event --- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:
* George Bush did not come.... * FEMA did nothing.... * No one howled for the government... * No one blamed the government * No one even uttered an expletive on TV... * Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit * Our Mayor's did not blame Bush or anyone else * Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else either * CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snow storm * Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards..... * No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.... * No one looted.... * Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something * Nobody expected the government to do anything either * No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera * No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found And * Nope, we just melted the snow for water * Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars * The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a penny * Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snow bound families * Families took in the stranded people - total strangers * We Fired up wood stoves * Broke out coal oil lanterns or coleman lanterns * We put on an extra layer of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die" * We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks. * Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early...we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves. "In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% most of the world's social problems evaporate."

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