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April 29, 2011
interests
I wish I was going to SB5.0.
Gordon G. Chang and the most pessimistic view on the Chinese economy.
Posted by azileretsis at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2011
beyond
I live in a different world. What's going on on Friday? What could be more important than the slow demise of United States' leadership in pushing the space frontiers?
Posted by azileretsis at 05:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2011
diversity
Why I value diversity, excerpts of an email:
I have to say that I agree with the diversity principle. I find that better ideas are generated with a group of people that are more
diversified than when they all look the same (more importantly, have
the same perspectives and biases). However, I do believe diversity
needs to be achieved more than on the basis of outside appearances.
I'm also not 100% merit based proponent. Along with my friends, I also
have found it frustrating when I see a double standard when it comes
to people's hiring, opportunities, and promotions that are based on
external appearances. But, as a amateur historian, I also see the
historical abuses and inequalities. I also see the unseen biases that
we perpetuate. Check out your own biases.
----
For the lower economical scale, women are a growing number of heads of
households. It is important that they receive pay equity if we want
less government (Medicaid, food stamps). For the higher economical
scale, I believe that diversity holds the key for American leadership
for the 21st Century. I found that European companies' decision making
process was enhanced by the inclusion of diversity as a value. It gave
them a competitive edge in an ever changing economical environment.
Posted by azileretsis at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2011
pay equity
A comment made to me about pay equality made me look up the facts. Here is information about academic employment. Just go to the end of the pdf to the graphs.
The truth about pay equity is that women are still being paid 77% (as of 2009) on average as men (pdf).
Posted by azileretsis at 10:26 AM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2011
assembly
Here's a cool video on virus self-assembly. However, some viruses are large in size(T>1) and there is no shaking where viruses assemble so more would be involved. Yes, this is one of the questions in my lab.
Speaking of icosahedrals, I am unable to resist these chocolates. They are also donating 5% of their proceeds to Make Agent Orange History until the end of May.
Posted by azileretsis at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2011
how
President Obama's team and campaign get hit again by the resignation of Douglas Kmiec. Most Americans don't even know where Malta is located. I don't even think most of President's staff knows where Malta is located. Or, do they know that Malta is a Catholic nation. Can anyone name a previous ambassador to Malta? As an ambassador or any legal representation of government, isn't it part of your job to find common ground with the people for whom you serve as an ambassador? How do you keep separate a part of your life when your life becomes so public? Why is the people supposedly working for President Obama seem to be working against him?
Posted by azileretsis at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2011
business
A friend recently posted about the suicides committed by Indian farmers over the use of genetically modified crops. It raises many questions. Should the companies be persecuted for consumer fraud? What consumer protection was in place and how could they have been better? What role should the governments of both the companies' and their consumers have played in the business of technology adoption?
I would argue that technology adoption was not the problem here. I would point out Thomas Malthus's theory on finite resources and how technology has transformed the impossible. We are again at the point of seeing many limiting factors in global resources including food.
This story should serve as a warning to governments and people about weighing risk. We should move slowly in the areas of new technology implementation especially when we have no ideas the social, political, and economic ramifications of these new products. However, this story cannot deter us from pushing forward to adopt technologies that could be a positive metamorphosis.
"Evil exists in the world not to create despair, but activity." - Thomas Malthus
Posted by azileretsis at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2011
green
Making trouble isn't protected by Chinese law. Unfortunately, only one side counts.
Girls are best. Who else is willing to take care of you in your old age?
I eat alot of green jelly beans.
Posted by azileretsis at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2011
house
What you've known all along, the House really doesn't represent the U.S. population. My biggest gripe is the gender gap. It has taken women ninety years from the right to vote to achieve 17%. Maybe, in ninety years, the percentage will go up to 34% (with sarcasm, just in case it is too understated).
Posted by azileretsis at 01:11 AM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2011
storm
Who haven't been in a storm and thought I should have picked up that emergency radio? I bought one today. My DSL went down twice during the last storm.
Posted by azileretsis at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)