gmane.comp.finance.gold-silver-crypto

[gsc] CafePress Understands How Government Works (Was RE:Amazon.com Fails...)

fm1234 — 2008-07-06T02:39:11

http://forums.cafepress.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/12410351/m/114100442 I've seen reports at marketing related forums which suggest that many smaller companies are also dropping NY affiliates rather than bothering trying to comply with or fight this law. Frank

Re: [gsc] "Long Tail" Bogus, film at eleven

fm1234 — 2008-07-06T01:38:01

'Long Tail' author Chris Anderson took the time to post a response to this article at the HBR blog: http://conversationstarter.hbsp.com/2008/06/challenging_the_long_tail.html One of his main points of contention is that the idiot who wrote the article fails to take into account the actual definition and delimiters of the concepts of the "Head" and "Tail" as is described in his book. Astonishingly, the idiot concedes this, then questions why Anderson would make such a big deal about it: "In his response, Anderson suggests that our divergent conclusions may stem from different definitions of the 'head' and 'tail.' That seems odd, as I have tried to steer away from drawing a sharp line between 'head' and 'tail'those are Andersons interpretations in his review of my Rhapsody and Quickflix results, not mineand instead focus on describing the distribution of transactions. I do so not only because I believe studying distributions is ultimately more insightful and relevant to managers faced with product portfolio decisions; any line one draws between the 'head' and 'tail' is also unavoidably arbitrary." http://conversationstarter.hbsp.com/2008/07/the_long_tail_debate_a_respons.html Now, I still haven't had the time to really read and study the report as closely as I'd like to, but it makes it all the harder to want to when the author takes the position that she can refute a theory by simply removing the core definitions upon which that theory rests, then express suprise when the originator of said theory brings them up. Anyway, if time allows I'll bother with this again. Frank

[gsc] Lincoln (Was Re: [gsc] the past)

fm1234 — 2008-07-06T01:30:14

That was certainly an inspiration for other tyrants who followed, especially the elected variety. Interestingly enough, although anti-Lincoln people like myself often paint him as an evil tyrant, he was a far worse kind: a sincere and passionate tyrant who believed he was doing God's work for the benefit of the greater number of people than those he was smiting. Frank

Re: [gsc] the past

fm1234 — 2008-07-06T01:25:02

This kind of puerile bromide is little different in substance than the flag-waving nonsense that gets taught in schools today -- just from a different ideological viewpoint. "Aside from the Civil War, there was hardly any war at all!" SUPER. "No income tax!" Simply factually inaccurate -- there were multiple income taxes in the 19th century in the US. "Nearly complete capitalism!" Except in agriculture, shipping, and ah "human commodities." Also the birth of socialism in Europe and the beginnings of Eastern-style fascism in Japan. "Gold was money!" Cool! That explains Greenbacks, bimetallism, and Cleveland's ongoing struggle to preserve the gold standard during both of his terms. See also: the odd bad faith treaty with the Native Americans, and the whole Hawaii thing. And massive federal control in the wake of Lincoln's tyranny. And and and. (and that just touches on America -- doesn't even delve into much of the rest of the world.) It's just tiring muck, as badly embellished as an old man at the barber shop starting a yarn with "Why, when I was yer age ..." Frank 20th century -- but the

Re: [gsc] Libertarians Favor Obama

Raven Escrow — 2008-07-06T00:46:07

LOL... that's pretty good!! On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 4:39 PM, Viking Coder public.gmane.org> wrote:

Re: [gsc] Libertarians Favor Obama

Viking Coder — 2008-07-05T21:39:33

Yes. but remember the revised Nolan Chart for this group. The original Nolan Chart. http://i25.tinypic.com/okzw1z.gif This group's Nolan Chart. http://i27.tinypic.com/1z6y54w.gif Viking Coder

Re: [gsc] Libertarians Favor Obama

Raven Escrow — 2008-07-05T21:39:00

lol.... Speaking for just one, "kinda" libertarian.... I'm not voting for either of the two wankers: The nasty old man or the young empty suit. Raven On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 1:58 PM, Wavyhill public.gmane.org> wrote:

[gsc] Inflation

2008-07-05T21:25:58

Bolivia es el país más inflacionario después de Venezuela --------------------------------------------------------- Bolivia is the most inflationary country after Venezuela Empresarios: la inflación ya ha llegado al 18 por ciento y el INE miente ---------------------------------------------------------- Businessmen: inflation has reached to 18% and the INE [gov't statistics organ] is lying http://www.hoybolivia.com/Noticia.php?IdEdicion=61&IdSeccion=3&IdNoticia=366 1 [Spanish] ... ********************************************************** And the Boliviano has gained over 10% on the dollar in the last year. So that would put the dollar inflation rate at about 30%. This is causing a lot of pain for Bolivians who habitually keep their savings in dollars. So now there is a new, fast growing, Credit Union http://www.cooperativajerusalen.com/ which is advertising http://www.eldeberservices.com/adsx/www/delivery/ai.php?filename=jerusalen.g if&contenttype=gif special Euro and UFV [stands for: Finacial Unit of Value] accounts to help people avoid losses due to inflation. UFV is their proprietary anti-inflation financial basket. Best, CCS ------------------------------------------------------ - Virtual Phonecards - Instant Pin by Email - - Large Selection - Great Rates - - http://speedypin.com/?aff=743&co_branded=1 - ------------------------------------------------------ ************************************** * * * Craig Spencer * * ccspencer-tORamrTw2pXk1uMJSBkQmQ< at >public.gmane.org * * * **************************************

Re: [gsc] Media

JP May — 2008-07-05T19:26:25

LOL ok ... like I mentioned "caged" for jailed, they also love "Beds" for "had sex with". Heh! "SHOCK, DID MCCARTNEY BED YOKO?" type of thing! KYLIE BEDS BODYGUARD - AGAIN etc.

Re: [gsc] Ianasa ("um")

JP May — 2008-07-05T19:25:05

You certainly are knowledgeable in that field, Robert!

Re: [gsc] Libertarians Favor Obama

Wavyhill — 2008-07-05T18:58:17

Nuts! I dont know any libertarians that would vote for either McCain or Obama. Are there any here? The alternatives I hear about are: Baldwin Barr Paul (writein) Why Bother? wavyhill

[gsc] Libertarians Favor Obama

R.A.Hettinga — 2008-07-05T18:11:38

Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a presidential election. Libertarians Favor Obama and Other Looks at Election 2008 Saturday, July 05, 2008 Libertarian voters make up 4% of the nation’s likely voters and they favor Barack Obama over John McCain by a 53% to 38% margin. Three percent (3%) would vote for some other candidate and 5% are not sure. These results, from an analysis of 15,000 Likely Voter interviews conducted by Rasmussen Reports, challenges the conventional wisdom which assumes that strong support for a Libertarian candidate would hurt John McCain. In June, Rasmussen Reports asked 15,000 Likely Voters if they were fiscally conservative, moderate, or liberal and if they were socially conservative, moderate, or liberal. This created a total of 16 possible combinations (not sure was a fourth option for both questions). However, 87% of voters fit into one of seven combinations. Libertarians, defined as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, are the smallest of these seven combinations. The largest group, representing 24% of the nation’s voters, are both fiscally and socially conservative. Demographically, these voters generally reflect the population at large except that 85% are White and just 5% African-American. Sixty-seven percent (67%) are Republicans and McCain leads Obama 82% to 13% among these voters. The next biggest block of voters, representing 20% of all voters, are both fiscally and socially moderate. Forty-nine percent (49%) of these voters are Democrats and 33% are not affiliated with either major party. They are a bit less likely than the population at large to have completed college but demographically reflect the nation in most ways. Obama leads among these voters 59% to 30%. Fifteen percent (15%) of all voters are fiscally moderate and socially liberal. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of these voters are women and they are more likely than most voters to have completed college and to have attended graduate school. They favor Obama by an 80% to 13% margin. Two groups of voters each include 10% of the voting population—those who are fiscally conservative and socially moderate along with those who are fiscally moderate and socially conservative. Among the first group, McCain leads 67% to 25%. Among the latter, McCain’s advantage is smaller, 51% to 40%. Nine percent (9%) of voters are both socially and fiscally liberal. Not surprisingly, Obama dominates among this segment of the electorate and leads McCain by a 91% to 6% margin. These voters tend to have somewhat higher incomes (25% earn at least $100,000 a year) and are a bit younger than the population at large. Fifty-seven percent (57%) are women. Looked at from a different perspective, 25% of Obama’s support comes from voters who are fiscally moderate and socially liberal. Twenty- four percent (24%) are both fiscally and socially moderate while 17% are fiscally and socially liberal. No other group provides more than 8% of Obama’s support. Forty-five percent (45%) of McCain supporters are both fiscally and socially conservative, 15% are fiscally conservative and socially moderate, 14% are both fiscally and socially moderate, and 12% are fiscally moderate and socially conservative. All data in this survey is based upon interviews with 15,000 Likely Voters as part of the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Premium Members can review crosstabs for the Obama-McCain numbers results. Additional crosstabs are available here and here. Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information. The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election. Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade. The survey was conducted from June 1-15, 2008 and the overall sample showed Obama leading 49% to 44% (with leaners). The theoretical margin of sampling error is smaller than +/- one percentage point for the full sample. Subsets have larger measures of sampling error. For the smallest group mentioned in the article, Libertarian voters, the margin of sampling error is +/- four percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fiscal Social Obama McCain Con-Con 62% 67% 13% 82% Mod-Mod 43% 62% 59% 30% Mod-Lib 33% 51% 80% 13% Con-Mod 26% 30% 25% 67% Mod-Con 22% 28% 40% 51% Lib-Lib 79% 30% 91% 6%

Re: [gsc] Media

R.A. Hettinga — 2008-07-05T17:53:05

On Jul 5, 2008, at 12:51 PM, JP May wrote: Splendid. I'm still lauging... Cheers, RAH

[gsc] TrueCrypt 6

George Hara — 2008-07-05T17:50:03

truecrypt.org Many new features in TrueCrypt 6: * Parallelized encryption/decryption on multi-core processors (or multi-processor systems). Increase in encryption/decryption speed is directly proportional to the number of cores and/or processors. For example, if your computer has a quad-core processor, encryption and decryption will be four times faster than on a single-core processor with equivalent specifications (likewise, it will be twice faster on dual-core processors, etc.) [View benchmark results] * Ability to create and run an encrypted hidden operating system whose existence is impossible to prove (provided that certain guidelines are followed). For more information, see the section Hidden Operating System. (Windows Vista/XP/2008/2003) For security reasons, when a hidden operating system is running, TrueCrypt ensures that all local unencrypted filesystems and non-hidden TrueCrypt volumes are read-only. (Data is allowed to be written to filesystems within hidden TrueCrypt volumes.) Note: We recommend that hidden volumes are mounted only when a hidden operating system is running. For more information, see the subsection Security Precautions Pertaining to Hidden Volumes. * On Windows Vista and Windows 2008, it is now possible to encrypt an entire system drive even if it contains extended/logical partitions. (Note that this is not supported on Windows XP.) * New volume format that increases reliability, performance and expandability: o Each volume created by this or later versions of TrueCrypt will contain an embedded backup header (located at the end of the volume). Note that it is impossible to mount a volume when its header is damaged (the header contains an encrypted master key). Therefore, embedded backup headers significantly reduce this risk. For more information, see the subsection Tools > Restore Volume Header. Note: If the user fails to supply the correct password (and/or keyfiles) twice in a row when trying to mount a volume, TrueCrypt will automatically try to mount the volume using the embedded backup header (in addition to trying to mount it using the primary header) each subsequent time that the user attempts to mount the volume (until he or she clicks Cancel). If TrueCrypt fails to decrypt the primary header and then decrypts the embedded backup header successfully (with the same password and/or keyfiles), the volume is mounted and the user is warned that the volume header is damaged (and informed as to how to repair it). o The size of the volume header area has been increased to 128 KB. This will allow implementation of new features and improvements in future versions and ensures that performance will not be impaired when a TrueCrypt volume is stored on a file system or device that uses a sector size greater than 512 bytes (the start of the data area will always be aligned with the start of a host-filesystem/physical sector). For more information about the new volume format, see the section TrueCrypt Volume Format Specification. Note: Volumes created by previous versions of TrueCrypt can be mounted using this version of TrueCrypt. * Parallelized header key derivation on multi-core processors (one algorithm per core/thread). As a result, mounting is several times faster on multi-core processors. (Windows) * Ability to create hidden volumes under Mac OS X and Linux. * On Linux, TrueCrypt now uses native kernel cryptographic services (by default) for volumes encrypted in XTS mode. This increases read/write speed in most cases. However, the FUSE driver must still be used when the volume is encrypted in a deprecated mode of operation (LRW or CBC), or when mounting an outer volume with hidden-volume protection, or when using an old version of the Linux kernel that does not support XTS mode. (Linux)

Re: [gsc] Ianasa ("um")

Robert dCZ — 2008-07-05T17:09:45

Actually that is what the first ruling prince of Monaco did. Trick the occupants into letting him into the castle where he then took control, and pronounced Monaco an independent principality. However, he was of royal descent from an extinct kingdom before that - since birth, obviously - unrelated to his conquest. The reason he was left be was mainly because there was no particular interest from the neighbours in the rock he took over, and mustering a mercenary army to dislodge someone from a rock of no strategic or commercial value (at the time) made little sense. Once France was consolidated, there was no reason for them to capture Monacco, because the effort and costs involved still didn't warrant the effort. Essentially, the principality only became a fixture in the public mind when Ranier married Grace Kelly and sold off the media rights to the wedding. A PR coup that was mainly meant to promo the Casino, the principalities primary source of revenue, and that worked beautifully. Liechtenstein on the other hand had strategic value and political pedigree. A fortification that could be occupied by troops of the Holy Roman Empire to keep the Swiss at bay, if they were to become too adventurerous, while also being "in the flank" of the strengthening Habsburg clan. In the end, perspective is important in these scenarios. Having a castle sitting near the pass of a cruicial (lucrative) trading route, ensures that the inhabitants in the vincinity of hundreds of miles behave themselves. After all, it usually took 10-50 years to build a solid castle, cost a fortune, and was designed to hold out for long enough until relief forces arrives, or the attackers ran out of cash to pay their mercenaries from. Liechtenstein enabled the Emperor to abandon pretty much all castles inside Switzerland and withdraw from what was then an unprofitable province (by the way, if there are any Swiss on this List who are about to google for links about famous battles and stormed Imperial castles, google instead for revisionist (archeological) views, that suggest that most of the castles had been abandonned before the famous battles were supposed to have taken place). In hindsight, and considering that the region is divided into four language groups with vast ethnic differences, one could almost suggest that the withdrawal avoided to turn the Western Alpes into a recurring battlefield ala the Balkan, and instead forced the inhabitants to depend on and thus live with each other in peace. Apart from that, it kept the French out of the mountains, Northern Italy in easy reach. and cost little to no loss of tax revenue. Unlike democrazies where governments have the combined wealth of the citizenry at their legislative deisposal, monarchies need the support of the nobility and have limited resources to field armies from and with. Maintaining garrissons in Switzerland wasn't a good business decission anymore, and Liechtenstein the perfect solution to cutting Imperial losses... History. It's a pitty that much is based on nationalist invention and old - original - sources are getting harder to come by. The Library of Congress is a great source though. Cheers, Robert. On 7/5/08, R.A. Hettinga public.gmane.org> wrote:

[gsc] Media

JP May — 2008-07-05T16:51:24

Exactly correct. By the way (not that it matters) you may be surprised to hear that in the UK presently the *print* media, populist papers, are the slightly equivalent Popular Voice contra the totally insane, just as you point out statist-leftist (largely BBC) TV-radio media. Hence, the BBC headline will be "Troubled Youth Murders Bystander - How Can We Share His Pain More, And, What Did Society Do Wrong?" ("special report follow-up: the Lesbian perspective") Whereas the Populist Newspapers will be along the lines: "Knife Murder Punk - 42 Suggestions For How Vigilante Mobs Could Beat Him To Death With Iron Bars" etc etc. It's quite funny really. (One of their favorite adjectives is CAGED, meaning 'jailed'. As in "Rapist Scum CAGED For 20 Years" - Heh!) And of course there's Jeremy Clarkson as the one and only counterweight in the audio-video media. It should be said that BBC Radio 4 (a radio station) is incredibly high quality: they play astonishingly good basically documentaries on every possible subject, from morning to night. {Interrupted twice a day by "The Archers" which is a ridiculous radio soap opera that is the longest-playing whatever.} I listen to R4 whenever I'm cruising in a car. However, it is wildly, astonishingly left-wing and statist, so you just have to turn off every other documentary that has any sort of political content at all, and enjoy the other non-political shows. (This sort of thing causes a real dilemma, along the lines "Should you enjoy buildings built by Hitler" - I don't know the answer.)

[gsc] "eh" in Canada

JP May — 2008-07-05T09:03:10

I often use "eh" in email (as in "nice day eh?") with no connection whatsoever to Canada or supposed Canadian speech - I never even thought of the connection. However, I offended a Canadian friend by so doing! :) I did not now why for years!

Re: [gsc] Rescue Video

JP May — 2008-07-05T08:59:52

What is the significance, Shane ?

Re: [gsc] More about the Rescue Video

phrv — 2008-07-05T14:51:44

The $20 Million "info" came in Fact from the "RSR" (Radio Suisse Romande), not the TV station "TSR", and was referring to a CHF 20 million (same thing as USD) "from a source close to the case"... - Link to the strory on RSR's website: http://info.rsr.ch/fr/news/Betancourt_flou_et_doutes_sur_sa_liberation.html?siteSect=2010&sid=9296449&cKey=1215259068000 Typical media hypocrisy: On their website, they now say: "Des médias ont émis vendredi des doutes sur la véracité...." (*Some media* have expressed doubts about the veracity...) "Some media", referring to themselves ?!?!? - Link to the story from TSR: http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=200001&sid=9296449 - Link to a video that shows the hostages being boarded in the Helicopter that freed them, and then in the chopper, when they had just been told that they were in fact in the hands of the Coombian army (original source: Colombian army): http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=500000&bcid=599337#vid=9299490 ----- Original Message ----- From: "R.A. Hettinga" public.gmane.org> To: public.gmane.org> Sent: 05 July, 2008 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [gsc] Rescue Video On Jul 5, 2008, at 3:27 AM, phrv wrote: Oh, *that* "Betancourt". Kewl. Thought the name was familiar, now I remember it from when I used to read the Forbes 400, heh, religiously, every year, in the 1980's. :-) As for whether or not Swiss "public radio" are EuroWeenies, or leftists, I'll leave it to the quibble-istas to haggle about. I think I first saw the story being trumpeted in the Guardian or somesuch, which is as EuroWeenie and leftist a rag as there is, and that kind of source is where the preponderance of the echo chamber on this story is, now. With the exception of the Colombian military denying it on Voice of America, anyway. :-). And, of course, now the commie-symp "mainstream" media in the US is now full of general FUD on the story, including, no surprise, this morning's Boston Globe. Azzoles. Cheers, RAH

Re: [gsc] Rescue Video

Raven Escrow — 2008-07-05T13:36:05

I don't follow Swiss radio, but just about ALL public radio (indeed, almost all radio or TV news, from England to Poland, most definitely ARE "Euro-Weenies" !! They remind me a lot of US news in the bad old Walter Cronkite days, when every news program in the US was produced from two zip codes in Manhattan, by the same group of Soviet-sympathizing, ugly art-loving, properly enlightened, arrogant elitists. The importance of talk radio in the US has not been properly appreciated. Not because it is so often correct, but because it is a contrary voice... and a loud one that doesn't go away. Raven

Re: [gsc] Ianasa ("um")

R.A. Hettinga — 2008-07-05T12:45:20

On Jul 5, 2008, at 6:23 AM, Robert dCZ wrote: Kewl. And here I thought he was a lineal descendant of some pirate who captured the castle sitting on the "Rock of Monaco", or somesuch, and they just left him alone because the couldn't dislodge him... Cheers, RAH