Thursday Afternoon Reads
My afternoon reading material:
• Morgan Stanley’s Yoga-Troubadour-Crossword-Math Pro Flees w/20% Returns (Bloomberg)
• Bair’s Legacy: FDIC With Teeth (WSJ) see also Exit Interview: FDIC Chair Sheila Bair (IRA)
• The Great Recession, Part II (Slate)
• How America Ceded Capitalism’s Bastion to German Boerse Seizing Big Board (Bloomberg)
• Hedge Funds Bet on Wider European Debt Crisis (Bloomberg) See also Trichet Fights a War on Two Fronts (Bloomberg)
• Five questions: BlackRock Investment Guru Dennis Stattman (Investment News)
• Boating Apps Help Sailors Get There and Back Again (NYT)
• My Summer at an Indian Call Center (MoJo)
• Nielsen SoundScan 2011 midyear report: Music sales up (for a change) (LA Times) see also Trey Anastasio Interview (Believer)
• Mastering One’s Own Domain, and No, This is Not a Seinfeld Reference (Whatever)
What are you reading?
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July 7th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Obama about to throw the former middle class and seniors under the bus in his “negotiations” with the Republicans on the budget deficit. Obama is a DINO. No matter the party he campaigns under, he’s got Republican tendencies, actions and policies.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/house-gop-leaders-meet-obama-debt-ceiling-155259483.html
some opinion (“they” are afraid of us):
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/bill-berkowitz/37174/right-wing-terrorism-is-happening-right-now-in-the-us-why-is-it-a-low-priority-for-the-us-government
oh no, not again:
http://blackswaninsights.blogspot.com/2011/07/it-begins-italian-spainish-cds-surge.html
July 7th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@HTCMSI
“…A portion of last night’s episode also highlighted the contestants’ reliance on pressure cookers- an underutilized kitchen tool that allows for the preparation of healthy, flavorful dishes in a fast and efficient manner. I found this part of the episode particularly interesting because, until recently, I considered pressure cookers to be mysterious, dangerous tools. This uninformed sentiment is shared by many, including one of last night’s judges. While being interviewed by Food Network native Ted Allen, judge Natalie Coughlin (recipient of eleven Olympic medals) stated that she is intrigued by, and afraid of, pressure cookers- a tool she has never used. Natalie agreed to try pressure cooking at home after Ted informed her of 2 facts every home cook should know- the new generation of pressure cookers are safe (thereby assuaging any fear of explosion- a concern I shared with Natalie until I saw firsthand how easy and effective a pressure cooker actually is), and their use is necessary during the 60 minutes contestants spend cooking in Kitchen Stadium because they speed up the cooking process.
I believe people are afraid of the unknown. In my opinion, before they began to regularly appear on popular cooking programs, pressure cookers were generally unknown to the average home cook. I credit, and thank, shows like the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and Bravo’s Top Chef (a series that has also showcased the use of pressure cookers) for bringing this incredibly useful, versatile kitchen tool into the homes of everyday Americans and teaching them (even if it is an abridged lesson) there is nothing to be afraid of….”
http://www.itsallfare.com/2010/01/fear-not-pressure-cooker.html
note..(re URL)
it isn’t .itsallFair. , or, .itsallFaerie(Tales). …
from Yesterday, yes, ‘Pressure Cookers’ are “underloved”..
I would have thought that the ‘popularity’ of the Original “Iron Chef” (from Nippon), at the min., would catapulted their utilization…
to say nothing of the whole, Mad Ave. inspired, “Growing Greener”-Wave…
but, funny enough, many, high-quality ones, are, still, to be found–in ‘Informal Markets’–at Low Prices..
add’l..
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/tv-chef-interview-ming-tsai
July 7th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
mathman,
re.. “…Obama is a DINO…”, maybe?, more People are beginning to understand that ol’ 44 is, really, “More of the Same.” (?)
“just like 43, though, now, with More~!”
“Hope, and Change” — riight…
July 7th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
The Big Board most of the world knows has been reduced to a server farm and a bell.
This statement says it all. It’s why the sale is not a big deal, why many of us no longer believe stocks are the key to a sound investment strategy and why we believe the game is rigged.
July 7th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
the on rushing default http://baselinescenario.com/2011/07/07/will-the-united-states-default
and are we doomed to collapse from austerity? http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/stiglitz140/English
July 7th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
MEH:
Pressure cookers are the microwave of a bygone era.
willid3:
I’m kinda’ hoping that the wingnuts force us into default (while I’m still able to take advantage of a level playing field, economically, and to defend me and mine, physically, if need be). Something has got to give in this country. I’m starting to see a lot more panhandlers and people with “need help” signs at intersections (contrary to the religious right’s talking point, I don’t see many religious organizations stepping up). It makes me sick. Keeping in mind that the devil we do know might be better than the one we don’t (“might” is the key to that statement), it’s time for us to get honest, ideologically, and nothing would make us more honest than landing hard on our asses.
July 7th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
what we stopped buying http://www.dailyfinance.com/photos/top-ways-americans-are-cutting-everyday-spending/4276496/?icid=sphere_copyright
i sort of expect them to do so also. not that i see more panhandlers or work for food sings than before. its just that neither seem to really know what we want. they see every problem solved with their ideological solution. when what is jobs. fixing the medical cost problem is a long term solution, it won’t create jobs today. fixing the deficit won’t create jobs either. and forcing us into default as they seem bound and determined to do . won’t be as nice as they think. i am sure we will hear later, thats not what i expected to happen, so its not my fault, its the other parties fault.
and the political religious bunch have very little to do with religion. they really don’t even know what it means in the good book. they just pick and choose what ever the fell like and fits in their ideology
July 7th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Murdoch to Close Tabloid Amid Fury Over Hacking
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/world/europe/08britain.html
Foreign born (truly…)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Murdoch
Bower to foreign leaders …
http://www.slate.com/id/2167031/
He probably even has a white mother! …You’d think the GOP genuflectors, the Fox News and WSJ Opinion Page lovers would hate a guy with the Murloch Monster’s record. ROFL… GOP “Values” and “Principles”
July 7th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Petey..
“…In microwave ovens, as these microwaves generated by the magnetron bombard the food, they cause the polar molecules to rotate at the same frequency, millions of times per second. The molecules within the food – especially the polar water molecules, but also amino acids, lipids and proteins – are forced to align themselves with the rapidly changing alternating electrical field. They oscillate around their axis in response to a reversal of the electric field which occurs billions of times per second. This oscillation creates considerable intermolecular friction which results in the generation of heat.
All this agitation creates “molecular friction”, which heats up the food. This unusual type of heating also causes substantial damage to the surrounding molecules, often forcefully deforming them or tearing them apart.It is this friction and heat which can destroy the fragile structure of vitamins and enzymes in the food.
Microwaves from the sun are based on pulsed direct current (DC) which don’t create frictional heat, while microwave ovens use alternating current (AC) creating frictional heat.
A microwave oven produces a spiked wavelength of energy with all of the power going into only one narrow frequency of the energy spectrum. Energy from the sun operates in a wide frequency spectrum.
The microwave oven issue: not as clear-cut as most of us assume
Microwaves can seriously deplete the nutrients in food. It’s not surprising that microwave heating of food results in losses of nutrients because all heating methods have a similar effect. However, microwave heating appears to produce the greatest losses.
Microwaves may also cause pathological changes in our bodies. Once the structure of a food is altered, it is unable to perform the desired function in our bodies. Clinical studies have shown that microwave heating of milk or cooking of vegetables is associated with a decline in hemoglobin levels. Will that kill you? Probably not. Is it good for you? I doubt it. These reductions may contribute to anemia, thyroid deficiency, and rheumatism.
It is assumed that no chemical effects can be detectable in microwaved nutrients. Hwever, histological studies (1) with microwaved broccoli and carrots have revealed that the molecular structures of nutrients are deformed by high-frequency reversal of polarity, even up to the point of destroying the cell walls, whereas in conventional cooking the cell structures remained intact…”
http://www.healingdaily.com/microwave-ovens.htm
“…Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules in it to resonate at very high frequencies and eventually turn to steam which heats your food. While this can rapidly heat your food, what most people fail to realize is that it also causes a change in your food’s chemical structure.
There are numerous issues that have emerged since microwave ovens were first introduced to consumers more than 40 years ago, besides depleting your food’s nutritional value, which will be addressed a bit later.
The first thing you probably noticed when you began microwaving food was how uneven the heating is.
“Hot spots” in microwaved food can be hot enough to cause burns—or build up to a “steam explosion.” This has resulted in admonitions to new mothers about NOT using the microwave to heat up baby bottles, since babies have been burned by super-heated formula that went undetected.
Another problem with microwave ovens is that carcinogenic toxins can leach out of your plastic and paper containers/covers, and into your food.
The January/February 1990 issue of Nutrition Action Newsletter reported the leakage of numerous toxic chemicals from the packaging of common microwavable foods, including pizzas, chips and popcorn. Chemicals included polyethylene terpthalate (PET), benzene, toluene, and xylene. Microwaving fatty foods in plastic containers leads to the release of dioxins (known carcinogens) and other toxins into your food. [8] [2]
One of the worst contaminants is BPA, or bisphenol A, an estrogen-like compound used widely in plastic products. In fact, dishes made specifically for the microwave often contain BPA, but many other plastic products contain it as well.
Microwaving distorts and deforms the molecules of whatever food or other substance you subject to it…”
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx
so, really, ‘not so much’ ..
July 7th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
MEH:
Not a big fan of microwave cooking, and the downsides are abundant. My comment was the speed and convenience of the pressure cooker was the standby, until the advent of the microwave. Col. Sanders used pressure cookers to fry his chickens, so that folks stopping by for some finger lickin’ chicken wouldn’t have to wait very long.
Pthalates and BPA are a lit fuse, environmentally. The Potomac river — arguably one of the greatest fisheries in the country — is seeing male fish developing eggs due to exposure to pthalates. Mmmmmmm . . .
Maybe Michele Bachmann’s god will come down from the clouds and clean all of this shit up. Not holding my breath (but maybe I should).
July 7th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
@MEH,
So that is the second conspicuous placement we can document of pressure cookers into popular cooking culture. I wonder if there is a stealth ad campaign going on. Look for the pressure cooker ad gone viral on you tube next. ;)
That said PCs are misunderstood cooking tools, I believe. It doesn’t mean I’ll rush out and get one myself but the globe article also pointed out the new generation PCs are much safer so that is a major educational aspect of the marketing push if there is one. I’ve already got that concept solidified in my brain.
The funny thing is that I always thought pressure cookers took longer to cook until I learned otherwise reading that article. The PC is definitely misunderstood and I think they have a ways to go to bring it back into respectability in the consumer kitchen
July 8th, 2011 at 12:40 am
Trout cooks really well in a microwave!
Fillet it or buy already done. Place flat on a plate, sprinkle some lemon and/or spices on the fish. Cover with a plastic top. Cook on high for 4 minutes or so. Voila!
July 8th, 2011 at 1:47 am
Harold Camping, radio preacher who falsely predicted apocalypse in May, sent to nursing home
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/07/06/2011-07-06_harold_camping_radio_preacher_who_falsely_predicted_apocalypse_in_may_sent_to_nu.html
The man suffered a stroke……it seems God got him
July 8th, 2011 at 3:13 am
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