The Turing Award, the Nobel Prize of computing has been won by Edmund Clarke (CMU), E. Allen Emerson (UT at Austin) and Joseh Sifakis (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/CARNOT Institute) for research on Model Checking. The citation reads: For their role in developing Model-Checking into a highly effective verification technology, widely adopted in the hardware and software industries.
Their innovations transformed this approach from a theoretical technique to a highly effective verification technology that enables computer hardware and software engineers to find errors efficiently in complex system designs. This transformation has resulted in increased assurance that the systems perform as intended by the designers. The Turing Award, named for British mathematician Alan M. Turing, carries a $250,000 prize, with financial support provided by Intel Corporation and Google Inc. Clarke of Carnegie Mellon University, and Emerson of the University of Texas at Austin, working together, and Sifakis, working independently for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique at the University of Grenoble in France, developed this fully automated approach that is now the most widely used verification method in the hardware and software industries.
For more information here. As one can see in the link, Joseph Sifakis is the founder of Verimag Laboratory, a leading research center for embedded systems in Grenoble, France, where he was director from 1993-2006. He is Research Director of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, and Director of the CARNOT Institute on Intelligent Software and Systems in Grenoble. Dr. Sifakis is a member of the editorial board of several journals, and the scientific coordinator of the Artist2 and ArtistDesign European Networks of Excellence on Embedded Systems Design. He is co-founder with Edmund Clarke, Robert Kurshan, and Amir Pnueli of the International Conference on Computer Aided Verification (CAV). He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Athens and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Grenoble.
Note: (About the A.M. Turing Award) The A.M. Turing Award was named for Alan M. Turing, the British mathematician who articulated the mathematical foundation and limits of computing, and who was a key contributor to the Allied cryptanalysis of the German Enigma cipher during World War II. Since its inception in 1966, the Turing Award has honored the computer scientists and engineers who created the systems and underlying theoretical foundations that have propelled the information technology industry. For additional information, click on http://www.acm.org/awards/taward.html .
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
How California Delegates Are Selected for the 2008 Democratic National Convention
California will send the largest delegation--441 delegates and 62 alternates to the convention-- split as evenly as possible between men and women.
241 of California’s 441 delegates are elected based on the share of the vote the candidates for President receive in the 53 Congressional Districts. Only 81 delegates are elected “at-large” and go to the winner of the statewide vote.
The remaining 119 delegates are selected (not elected). These include 66 “super delegates” (Members of Congress, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Members, and a former DNC Chair). Also 48 Pledged Party Leaders / Elected Officials (PLEOs) committed to candidates who receive at least 15% of the statewide vote and apportioned by their share of the vote. Another 5 are also appointed who are “unpledged” to any candidate. There will be 3 to 7 delegates allocated in each of California’s 53 Congressional Districts (CDs).
In addition, 40 CDs will each get 1 Alternate. Delegates are allocated to each Presidential candidate who receives 15% or more of the vote in any CD on February 5, 2008.
for more here.
Califonia democratic primary: The latest polls
A startling surge of support for Barack Obama has catapulted the Illinois senator into a virtual tie with Hillary Rodham Clinton in California's Democratic presidential primary, a Field Poll released Saturday shows.The Democratic numbers are the shocker. Clinton, a longtime California favorite, saw her once-commanding lead slip to two percentage points, 36 to 34 percent, in the new survey. That's down from the New York senator's 12 percentage point lead in mid-January and a 25 percentage point margin over Obama in October.
But with 18 percent of Democratic voters still undecided just days before Tuesday's primary, the election is still up for grabs, said Mark DiCamillo, the poll's director.
The head-to-head matchups between the Republican and Democratic candidates highlight both Clinton's loosening hold on California voters and McCain's growing strength in the state.
Clinton now clings to a bare 45 to 43 percent lead over McCain in a projected California presidential vote, down dramatically from her 17 percentage point margin just two weeks ago. Obama now holds a stronger 47 to 40 percent margin over the Arizona senator, but that's only half the 14 percentage point advantage he had in mid-January.
Obama's California campaign team said the latest polls reflect a hard-charging effort to track down potential voters in every precinct - undeterred by polls that showed the Illinois senator behind by double digits here for most of the race.The new poll shows why Obama's campaign has been targeting decline-to-state voters, who can cast ballots in the Democratic primary. While Clinton has a 37 to 31 percent lead over Obama among Democrats, Obama leads by an overwhelming 54 to 32 percent among nonpartisans, who will make up an estimated 13 percent of the primary voters.
The poll also highlights the dramatic split the Clinton-Obama battle has caused in the state's Democratic Party. Rich versus poor, young versus old, liberal versus conservative, men versus women: Each of those groups has lined up on different sides of the primary divide.
While people aged 18 to 29 back Obama by a margin of 11 percentage points, voters 65 and older support Clinton, 40 to 18 percent. Voters with household incomes of $40,000 or less back Clinton by an advantage of 11 percentage points, while those making $80,000 or more are strong Obama supporters.
Obama attracts voters who call themselves liberal, who have gone to graduate school and who are from the Bay Area, which backs him 41 to 31 percent. Clinton's strength is among conservatives and moderates, those with a high school education and residents of sprawling Los Angeles County, where she holds a 42 to 34 percent lead.
There's also a broad ethnic and gender gap between the campaigns. While white voters are split evenly between Clinton and Obama, the Illinois senator, whose late father was a black African, has a 55 to 19 percent lead among black voters, while Latinos back Clinton 52 to 19 percent.
Among men, Obama holds a 13 percentage point lead, the same advantage Clinton holds among women.
But for Clinton, even her good numbers show some ominous changes. In mid-January, the Field Poll showed her with a 19 percentage point lead among women and a huge 59 to 19 percent advantage with Latino voters. In two weeks, much of that backing has melted away.
While part of the reason for the huge number of undecided voters is last week's departure of John Edwards from the race, most of it seems to be honest angst among Democrats pressed to make a choice between two favored candidates, DiCamillo said.
"This is the Democratic rank and file having a hard time making a choice, because they like them both," he said.
The poll was based on a telephone survey of 511 likely voters in the Democratic primary and was conducted between Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points among Democrats, and plus or minus 4.2 percentage points among general election voters.
More in the San Francisco Chronicle.
All the latest polls:
Updated: February 5. This is unbelievable! One of the two late polls gives Obama ahead by 13%, and the other Clinton by 10%!!! There are certainly questions about their methodology.
But with 18 percent of Democratic voters still undecided just days before Tuesday's primary, the election is still up for grabs, said Mark DiCamillo, the poll's director.
The head-to-head matchups between the Republican and Democratic candidates highlight both Clinton's loosening hold on California voters and McCain's growing strength in the state.
Clinton now clings to a bare 45 to 43 percent lead over McCain in a projected California presidential vote, down dramatically from her 17 percentage point margin just two weeks ago. Obama now holds a stronger 47 to 40 percent margin over the Arizona senator, but that's only half the 14 percentage point advantage he had in mid-January.
Obama's California campaign team said the latest polls reflect a hard-charging effort to track down potential voters in every precinct - undeterred by polls that showed the Illinois senator behind by double digits here for most of the race.The new poll shows why Obama's campaign has been targeting decline-to-state voters, who can cast ballots in the Democratic primary. While Clinton has a 37 to 31 percent lead over Obama among Democrats, Obama leads by an overwhelming 54 to 32 percent among nonpartisans, who will make up an estimated 13 percent of the primary voters.
The poll also highlights the dramatic split the Clinton-Obama battle has caused in the state's Democratic Party. Rich versus poor, young versus old, liberal versus conservative, men versus women: Each of those groups has lined up on different sides of the primary divide.
While people aged 18 to 29 back Obama by a margin of 11 percentage points, voters 65 and older support Clinton, 40 to 18 percent. Voters with household incomes of $40,000 or less back Clinton by an advantage of 11 percentage points, while those making $80,000 or more are strong Obama supporters.
Obama attracts voters who call themselves liberal, who have gone to graduate school and who are from the Bay Area, which backs him 41 to 31 percent. Clinton's strength is among conservatives and moderates, those with a high school education and residents of sprawling Los Angeles County, where she holds a 42 to 34 percent lead.
There's also a broad ethnic and gender gap between the campaigns. While white voters are split evenly between Clinton and Obama, the Illinois senator, whose late father was a black African, has a 55 to 19 percent lead among black voters, while Latinos back Clinton 52 to 19 percent.
Among men, Obama holds a 13 percentage point lead, the same advantage Clinton holds among women.
But for Clinton, even her good numbers show some ominous changes. In mid-January, the Field Poll showed her with a 19 percentage point lead among women and a huge 59 to 19 percent advantage with Latino voters. In two weeks, much of that backing has melted away.
While part of the reason for the huge number of undecided voters is last week's departure of John Edwards from the race, most of it seems to be honest angst among Democrats pressed to make a choice between two favored candidates, DiCamillo said.
"This is the Democratic rank and file having a hard time making a choice, because they like them both," he said.
The poll was based on a telephone survey of 511 likely voters in the Democratic primary and was conducted between Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points among Democrats, and plus or minus 4.2 percentage points among general election voters.
More in the San Francisco Chronicle.
All the latest polls:
Updated: February 5. This is unbelievable! One of the two late polls gives Obama ahead by 13%, and the other Clinton by 10%!!! There are certainly questions about their methodology.
Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley and the power of money
Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley on January 30.
Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.
Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.
The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city. In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.
The City Council's decision echoes mounting opposition to military recruitment in the Berkeley.
However, what started with a set of resolutions against the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley has escalated into a national controversy and caused the mayor to revisit the resolutions' intentions. United States Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Thursday he will introduce legislation that would strip $2,392,000 in earmarked spending for at least six projects in Berkeley from a Senate appropriations bill. This includes $975,000 for UC Berkeley's Matsui Center on Politics and Public Service and $750,000 for a planned ferry service in Berkeley.
"This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families," DeMint said in a statement. "The First Amendment gives the city of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money."
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who voted for the resolutions against the center, said that the council supports the troops, but said that they hope to see the war end as soon as possible.
In an effort to retain their funding, the campus plans to contact DeMint and inform him that the city and the campus are separate institutions, and inform him about the campus' ROTC program, said UC Berkeley spokesperson Marie Felde. "We are hopeful that when he has the facts he will rethink his position," she said.
(For more details, see the daily Californian).
Update: (09Feb. 88). It took a week for the story to make the news with CNN.
Update (Feb 13, 08). After a large-scale protest outside City Council chambers that began early yesterday morning, the Berkeley City Council decided not to send an apology to the Marine Corps but rather to make clear their support for members of the military.
Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.
Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.
The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city. In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.
The City Council's decision echoes mounting opposition to military recruitment in the Berkeley.
However, what started with a set of resolutions against the Marine Corps recruiting center in Downtown Berkeley has escalated into a national controversy and caused the mayor to revisit the resolutions' intentions. United States Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Thursday he will introduce legislation that would strip $2,392,000 in earmarked spending for at least six projects in Berkeley from a Senate appropriations bill. This includes $975,000 for UC Berkeley's Matsui Center on Politics and Public Service and $750,000 for a planned ferry service in Berkeley.
"This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families," DeMint said in a statement. "The First Amendment gives the city of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money."
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who voted for the resolutions against the center, said that the council supports the troops, but said that they hope to see the war end as soon as possible.
In an effort to retain their funding, the campus plans to contact DeMint and inform him that the city and the campus are separate institutions, and inform him about the campus' ROTC program, said UC Berkeley spokesperson Marie Felde. "We are hopeful that when he has the facts he will rethink his position," she said.
(For more details, see the daily Californian).
Update: (09Feb. 88). It took a week for the story to make the news with CNN.
Update (Feb 13, 08). After a large-scale protest outside City Council chambers that began early yesterday morning, the Berkeley City Council decided not to send an apology to the Marine Corps but rather to make clear their support for members of the military.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
An opinion about the polls in the 2008 US primaries
From the op-ed of Frank Rich in today's NYT.
As Tuesday’s vote looms, all that’s certain is that today’s pollsters and pundits have so far gotten almost everything wrong. Mr. McCain’s campaign had been declared dead. Mrs. Clinton has gone from invincible to near-death to near-invincible again. Mr. Obama was at first not black enough to sweep black votes and then too black to get a sizable white vote in South Carolina.
As Tuesday’s vote looms, all that’s certain is that today’s pollsters and pundits have so far gotten almost everything wrong. Mr. McCain’s campaign had been declared dead. Mrs. Clinton has gone from invincible to near-death to near-invincible again. Mr. Obama was at first not black enough to sweep black votes and then too black to get a sizable white vote in South Carolina.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The "eyes" of the future president in the US
The way a person looks at you is the outer expression of their character. For me, what a person's eyes "say" is almost as important as what their mouth says.Looking at the picture (from cnn) of the US presidential candidates, I go for Obama and Huckabee. Don't you?
The three H of John Edwards
The NYT published an article explaining the reasons of the abrupt withdrawal of John Edwards from the presidential race. Of the three H (his haircuts ($400), his house (28,000 square feet in Chapel Hill, N.C.) and the hedge fund)) the more serious, in my opinion, is the hedge fund where he worked after his 2004 loss (which invested in companies that foreclosed on mortgages of hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, the city Mr. Edwards was trying to make the emblem of his antipoverty work).
Ralph Nader running again in 2008?
The same day John Edwards exited the race, longtime consumer advocate Ralph Nader launched a presidential exploratory committee to decide whether to run as an independent candidate.
In an interview with Amy Goodman he explains, persuasively I think, why the argument that by doing so he is damaging the progressive movement is not a valid one.
In an interview with Amy Goodman he explains, persuasively I think, why the argument that by doing so he is damaging the progressive movement is not a valid one.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Mandatory HIV test before marriage in India
India is moving fast, and not only economically.
A committee set up by the Indian state of Maharashtra has provisionally approved the mandatory HIV testing of couples before marriage. If the decision is made into law, Maharashtra would be the first state in the country to have such a scheme. India has one of the highest numbers of people with HIV in the world.
Here is the full story.
A committee set up by the Indian state of Maharashtra has provisionally approved the mandatory HIV testing of couples before marriage. If the decision is made into law, Maharashtra would be the first state in the country to have such a scheme. India has one of the highest numbers of people with HIV in the world.
Here is the full story.
A message from John Edwards
Below is the message John Edwards sent to him supporters after annowncing that he suspended his campaign
Dear...
Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.
Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.
I began my presidential campaign in New Orleans to remind the country that all of us -- as citizens and as a government -- have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters.
Now, it's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to the White House -- but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history.
And, along the way, all of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, I am asking you to continue speaking out for those who have no voice, just as Elizabeth and I will continue to do. We need you.
Do not turn away from the great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us -- all of us together -- to make the two one. We need you.I hope you will take a few moments to listen to the video clip of my speech in earlier this afternoon or to read it below.
In the meantime, Elizabeth and my family join me in thanking all of you for your support and for working so hard on my behalf. We are truly blessed to have such friends.
Thank you.
John Edwards
Dear...
Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.
Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.
I began my presidential campaign in New Orleans to remind the country that all of us -- as citizens and as a government -- have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters.
Now, it's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to the White House -- but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history.
And, along the way, all of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, I am asking you to continue speaking out for those who have no voice, just as Elizabeth and I will continue to do. We need you.
Do not turn away from the great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us -- all of us together -- to make the two one. We need you.I hope you will take a few moments to listen to the video clip of my speech in earlier this afternoon or to read it below.
In the meantime, Elizabeth and my family join me in thanking all of you for your support and for working so hard on my behalf. We are truly blessed to have such friends.
Thank you.
John Edwards
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Edwards 'quits' White House race?
According to the BBC web site, John Edwards is exiting the race for the White House after failing to win any of the four party nomination contests held so far, officials say.
Members of his team said the former North Carolina senator had decided not to continue to Super Tuesday next week. He lost Iowa's caucuses, came third in New Hampshire, admitted getting his "butt kicked" in Nevada and came third in his native South Carolina. The two-time candidate reportedly plans to make a statement soon.
It is not yet clear if the 54 year-old will endorse either of the two current Democratic front-runners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
His spokeswoman Colleen Murray told AFP news agency that Mr Edwards would publicly announce the end to his White House bid in New Orleans, where he formally launched his campaign in 2006. Mr Edwards's campaign website said he was scheduled to make a speech on poverty at a community project in the flood-ravaged Louisiana city on Wednesday 1300 local time (1900 GMT).
Members of his team said the former North Carolina senator had decided not to continue to Super Tuesday next week. He lost Iowa's caucuses, came third in New Hampshire, admitted getting his "butt kicked" in Nevada and came third in his native South Carolina. The two-time candidate reportedly plans to make a statement soon.
It is not yet clear if the 54 year-old will endorse either of the two current Democratic front-runners, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
His spokeswoman Colleen Murray told AFP news agency that Mr Edwards would publicly announce the end to his White House bid in New Orleans, where he formally launched his campaign in 2006. Mr Edwards's campaign website said he was scheduled to make a speech on poverty at a community project in the flood-ravaged Louisiana city on Wednesday 1300 local time (1900 GMT).
Siemens and the kickbacks in Greece
With reference to the above, I found the following in the Trend Capital news Agency:
In the last quarter, which counts as the first quarter of the Siemens financial year ending September 30, 2008, the company spent a further 127 million euros on the investigation and improving surveillance against bribery.
In a bid to find and punish the key executives behind the corrupt practices in Greece, Italy and other nations, Siemens investigators have offered an amnesty to smaller fish who reveal their role in the kickbacks.
Loescher said that 33 staff had applied for the amnesty. It had been granted to four and denied to two, and the rest of the cases were still being investigated.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Florida primaries and the polls
The GOP results (99% reported): McCain 36% (693,425), Romney 31% (598,152), Giuliani 15%,(281,755), Huckabee 13% (259,703), Paul 3% (62,060), Thompson 1% (22,287).
Giuliani is expected to drop out of the race today and to endorse McCain.
It looks as though all the polls underestimated the votes of the winner (most of them outside the margin of error they themfelfs reported). The latest polls:
For the Democrats: Clinton 50% (856,944), Obama 33%, (568,930), Edwards 14% (248,545). The polls here got it right (more or less).
There were 1,925,728 voters who participated in the republican primary as opposed to 1,724,825 for the democrats. Although there are no deligates for the democrats, and there was a campaign boycott by all the Democratic candidates, this was the largest turnout for decades for the democrats. And this may be a good indication as to what is going to happen in November.
Giuliani is expected to drop out of the race today and to endorse McCain.
It looks as though all the polls underestimated the votes of the winner (most of them outside the margin of error they themfelfs reported). The latest polls:
For the Democrats: Clinton 50% (856,944), Obama 33%, (568,930), Edwards 14% (248,545). The polls here got it right (more or less).
There were 1,925,728 voters who participated in the republican primary as opposed to 1,724,825 for the democrats. Although there are no deligates for the democrats, and there was a campaign boycott by all the Democratic candidates, this was the largest turnout for decades for the democrats. And this may be a good indication as to what is going to happen in November.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Video of Ted Kennedey's speech endorsing Barack Obama
The video of Ted Kennedy's speech endorsing Barack Obama can be found here.
Ted Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama
Senator Kennedy, in a very moving speech, just announced his support for Barack Obama.
For those of us who were undecided as to whom to support between Barack Obama and John Edwards, this endorcement tilts the balance.
For those of us who were undecided as to whom to support between Barack Obama and John Edwards, this endorcement tilts the balance.
Texas thief steals Greek Orthodox bishop's crown
Now, this is news! Another news for me is that there is a bishop who was an ex marine!
A thief has broken into a car in Texas and stolen a valuable crown and other items belonging to a visiting Greek Orthodox bishop from Colorado.
Metropolitan Isaiah, an ex-US marine who served in the Korean War, was dining with others at a restaurant when the thief smashed his car's window.
The gold and silver crown is believed to be worth up to $10,000 (£5,000). Also stolen was his Bible and a bag embroidered with his religious title, a gift from the widow of a fellow marine. Metropolitan Isaiah, who was the only priest at a Vespers service on Saturday night without a head covering, is offering a reward of at least $1,000 for the safe return of the crown stolen in Arlington. "We parked in a brightly lit place, and with all the lights there, we thought we were fine," he was quoted by the Dallas News as saying. "We came out at 10 o'clock, and the window was smashed." The symbolic crown, he said, was the first gift he had received as a bishop, 22 years earlier, and he felt "lost without it". Other items missing include the bishop's mobile phone and his clerical veil but the loss of the bag seemed to be a particularly hard blow. "It has my name on it, embroidered Metropolitan Isaiah, so who can use it?" Metropolitan Isaiah asked.According to his official biography, the ex-marine, whose official title is Metropolitan of Denver, entered a Massachusetts seminary in 1954 and became a bishop in 1986.
A thief has broken into a car in Texas and stolen a valuable crown and other items belonging to a visiting Greek Orthodox bishop from Colorado.
Metropolitan Isaiah, an ex-US marine who served in the Korean War, was dining with others at a restaurant when the thief smashed his car's window.
The gold and silver crown is believed to be worth up to $10,000 (£5,000). Also stolen was his Bible and a bag embroidered with his religious title, a gift from the widow of a fellow marine. Metropolitan Isaiah, who was the only priest at a Vespers service on Saturday night without a head covering, is offering a reward of at least $1,000 for the safe return of the crown stolen in Arlington. "We parked in a brightly lit place, and with all the lights there, we thought we were fine," he was quoted by the Dallas News as saying. "We came out at 10 o'clock, and the window was smashed." The symbolic crown, he said, was the first gift he had received as a bishop, 22 years earlier, and he felt "lost without it". Other items missing include the bishop's mobile phone and his clerical veil but the loss of the bag seemed to be a particularly hard blow. "It has my name on it, embroidered Metropolitan Isaiah, so who can use it?" Metropolitan Isaiah asked.According to his official biography, the ex-marine, whose official title is Metropolitan of Denver, entered a Massachusetts seminary in 1954 and became a bishop in 1986.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The result of the South Carolina Democratic Primary and the polls
The results (with 99% of the votes counted)
Obama 55.70% (295,091),
Clinton 26.64% (141,128),
Edwards 17.66% (93,552)
Voting in South Carolina was brisk, producing a record turn-out of more than 530,000. By comparison, the turn-out for the 2004 Democratic primary was 280,000.
All the polls, totally failed to predict Obama's support (they underestimated it by 13% (minimum) to 29% (maximum). Most of them were closer to the actual percentages of Clinton and Edwards.
Strangely, on the face of it, if one adds all of those counted as "undecided" in the latest polls to the Obama vote then the polls seem closer to reality.
The opinion poll results:
Obama 55.70% (295,091),
Clinton 26.64% (141,128),
Edwards 17.66% (93,552)
Voting in South Carolina was brisk, producing a record turn-out of more than 530,000. By comparison, the turn-out for the 2004 Democratic primary was 280,000.
All the polls, totally failed to predict Obama's support (they underestimated it by 13% (minimum) to 29% (maximum). Most of them were closer to the actual percentages of Clinton and Edwards.
Strangely, on the face of it, if one adds all of those counted as "undecided" in the latest polls to the Obama vote then the polls seem closer to reality.
The opinion poll results:
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Public and private Universities in the US and financial aid
Α very interesting article by Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor of the University of California-Berkeley.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Child adoption and homosexuality in France
Here is the story.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that France discriminated against a lesbian nursery school teacher by refusing to let her adopt a child. The judges decided that the woman was a victim of discrimination because of her sexual orientation.They said her right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights had also been infringed. France has been told to pay her damages.
Nine European countries allow homosexuals to adopt children.
The court's ruling in Strasbourg on Tuesday noted that: "French law allowed single persons to adopt a child, thereby opening up the possibility of adoption by a single homosexual." The court criticised the French judiciary's emphasis on "the lack of a paternal referent in the household" in the case of the lesbian woman, who was identified only as E.B.
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that France discriminated against a lesbian nursery school teacher by refusing to let her adopt a child. The judges decided that the woman was a victim of discrimination because of her sexual orientation.They said her right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights had also been infringed. France has been told to pay her damages.
Nine European countries allow homosexuals to adopt children.
The court's ruling in Strasbourg on Tuesday noted that: "French law allowed single persons to adopt a child, thereby opening up the possibility of adoption by a single homosexual." The court criticised the French judiciary's emphasis on "the lack of a paternal referent in the household" in the case of the lesbian woman, who was identified only as E.B.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Albert Bowker passed away
Albert Hosmer Bowker, a former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, an expert in statistics and an innovative administrator during his decades-long career in higher education across the country, died Sunday in a retirement home in Portola Valley, Calif. He was 88 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Bowker was chancellor of UC Berkeley, which he called a "wild and wonderful place," from 1971 to 1980, a period largely defined by steady reductions in state funding, lingering student sentiment against the Vietnam War, and demonstrations against the university system’s investments in apartheid South Africa.
More about A. Bowker here.
One of his greater achievements is, in my opinion, that as an assistant professor of math and statistics at Stanford University (his first appointment in 1947) set up the Statistics Department and was its firt chair from 1948 to 1959.
Bowker was chancellor of UC Berkeley, which he called a "wild and wonderful place," from 1971 to 1980, a period largely defined by steady reductions in state funding, lingering student sentiment against the Vietnam War, and demonstrations against the university system’s investments in apartheid South Africa.
More about A. Bowker here.
One of his greater achievements is, in my opinion, that as an assistant professor of math and statistics at Stanford University (his first appointment in 1947) set up the Statistics Department and was its firt chair from 1948 to 1959.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Serbia: Presidential election 2008 (results)
22:35 Nikolic acknowledged electoral defeat and congratulated Tadic.22:16 TADIC 50.5%, NIKOLIC 47.9%, TURNOUT 67.6% (According to the first preliminary data of the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) ).
22:03 CeSID programme director Marko Blagojevic said that, on the basis of the processed electoral sample, it can be assessed that voters in Serbia have entrusted Boris Tadic with another mandate.
21:53 (19.53) NIKOLIC 49.45 % TADIC 48.75% (11.01% of the ballots counted)
21:39 Tadić 48,8, Nikolić 49,32
21:29 Tadić 50,5 Nikolić 47,9
Upadate: 03, feb 20:26 (18:26GMT) - Polls closed at 20.00 (18:00 GMT). According to the latest information 63% of the electorate voted (approx. 4.5 million people).
Upadate: 03, feb, 19:46 (17.46 GMT)- By 18.00 57.80% of of the electorate has voted , said Republic Election Commission deputy president Dejan Djurdjevic.
Upadate: 03, feb. 16.07GMT - According to the preliminary figures of the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), around 51% of the electorate went to the polls by 1700 hours (1500GMT), which is around 3% more than at the same time in the first round.
Upadate: 03, feb. 2.54GMT. (From Tanjug): The second round of the presidential election in Serbia opened Sunday at 7 a.m. Voters in Serbia will choose beteween Tomislav Nikolic, deputy president of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Boris Tadic, leader of the Democratic Party (DS), whose names are listed in that order on voting slips. The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) determined that there are a total of 6,723,762 registered voters in Serbia, about 15,000 more than in the first round, and 8481 polling stations. The turnout of the voters in the second round of the presidential election in Serbia by noon Sunday was 22.4%, about 1% more than in the first round at the same time, the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) told Tanjug. About five percent of the voters go to the polls every hour, CeSID said.
updated: 2/2/08: the latest opinion polls for the second round, show Tadić ahead of Nikolić by a 2% margin. I don't trust the accuracy of the polls in predicting election results, so I will not be surprised if the final result is the other way around.
In the meantime, the TV debate of the two candidates on Wednesday had a record audience for an information political programme since ratings began in 2002. It registered 30% higher ratings than the debate of the same candidates ahead of the presidential elections in 2004 (2,200,000 viewers). On Wednesday evening the ratings share was 60%. (3,100,000) viewers.
21/1/08. According to the official Serbian news agency Tanjug's latest results (6.15am), Tomislav Nikolić of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) gets 39,57%, Boris Tadić of the Democratic Party (DS) 35,45% , Srbije Velimir Ilić of New Serbia (NS) 7,45%, Milutin Mrkonjic of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) 5.96% and Čedomir Jovanović of the Liberal Demoratic Party (LDP) 5,39% .
(The agency site in English has not been updated since yesterday evening).
I will try to post the final result on February 3.
22:31TADIC51.6%, NIKOLIC 47.18% (according to Republican Election Commission on the basis of 56.87% of the votes counted).
22:16 TADIC 50.5%, NIKOLIC 47.9%, TURNOUT 67.6% (According to the first preliminary data of the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) ).
22:03 CeSID programme director Marko Blagojevic said that, on the basis of the processed electoral sample, it can be assessed that voters in Serbia have entrusted Boris Tadic with another mandate.21:53 (19.53) NIKOLIC 49.45 % TADIC 48.75% (11.01% of the ballots counted)
21:39 Tadić 48,8, Nikolić 49,32
21:29 Tadić 50,5 Nikolić 47,9
Upadate: 03, feb 20:26 (18:26GMT) - Polls closed at 20.00 (18:00 GMT). According to the latest information 63% of the electorate voted (approx. 4.5 million people).
Upadate: 03, feb, 19:46 (17.46 GMT)- By 18.00 57.80% of of the electorate has voted , said Republic Election Commission deputy president Dejan Djurdjevic.
Upadate: 03, feb. 16.07GMT - According to the preliminary figures of the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), around 51% of the electorate went to the polls by 1700 hours (1500GMT), which is around 3% more than at the same time in the first round.
Upadate: 03, feb. 2.54GMT. (From Tanjug): The second round of the presidential election in Serbia opened Sunday at 7 a.m. Voters in Serbia will choose beteween Tomislav Nikolic, deputy president of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Boris Tadic, leader of the Democratic Party (DS), whose names are listed in that order on voting slips. The Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) determined that there are a total of 6,723,762 registered voters in Serbia, about 15,000 more than in the first round, and 8481 polling stations. The turnout of the voters in the second round of the presidential election in Serbia by noon Sunday was 22.4%, about 1% more than in the first round at the same time, the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) told Tanjug. About five percent of the voters go to the polls every hour, CeSID said.
updated: 2/2/08: the latest opinion polls for the second round, show Tadić ahead of Nikolić by a 2% margin. I don't trust the accuracy of the polls in predicting election results, so I will not be surprised if the final result is the other way around.
In the meantime, the TV debate of the two candidates on Wednesday had a record audience for an information political programme since ratings began in 2002. It registered 30% higher ratings than the debate of the same candidates ahead of the presidential elections in 2004 (2,200,000 viewers). On Wednesday evening the ratings share was 60%. (3,100,000) viewers.
21/1/08. According to the official Serbian news agency Tanjug's latest results (6.15am), Tomislav Nikolić of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) gets 39,57%, Boris Tadić of the Democratic Party (DS) 35,45% , Srbije Velimir Ilić of New Serbia (NS) 7,45%, Milutin Mrkonjic of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) 5.96% and Čedomir Jovanović of the Liberal Demoratic Party (LDP) 5,39% .
(The agency site in English has not been updated since yesterday evening).
I will try to post the final result on February 3.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Nevada democratic caucus
Democratic party officials announced that more than 115,000 Democrats came out and participated. That compares with the 2004 caucuses, when about 9,000 voters joined in for the party’s caucuses.
Despite the support to Obama of the Clinary Union (a local union with 60000 members), Clinton won the popular vote. (Clinton 51%, Obama 45%, Edwards 4%). However, Obama won the majority of delegates (13 to 12 of Hillary). The math turns out to be a bit confusing, but the shorthand is this: The more populous Clark County, which Clinton won, awarded a even number of delegates, and Clinton and Obama split those down the middle. Meanwhile, the more rural areas, which Obama won, awarded an odd number of delegates, which gave Obama the edge.
It wasn't a High Noon quick draw that resolved the stalemate between Clinton and Obama - but a pack of cards. Under party rules, a pack was shuffled and a supporter from each camp asked to pick a card. Obama won both times. The quirk had little effect overall, and Mrs Clinton won the popular vote.The votes were tied after Saturday's caucuses by 26 votes each at a district in Genoa and 24-24 at Zephyr Cove near Lake Tahoe. At an elementary school in Genoa, caucus chairman Nancy Downey shuffled the pack of cards - which happened to have "Hillary" printed on the back - and spread them out on a table.Clinton supporter Greg Kuntz pulled out a five. An Obama supporter picked a king, clinching the vote, and securing an extra delegate to the next round of voting, when about 10,000 delegates meet at county level. "I drew the five to lose to the king," Mr Kuntz told the Associated Press. "Only in Nevada." Mr Obama's luck held in Zephyr Cove and his supporters again won the traditional Old West tiebreaker by picking a nine and trumping the Clinton camp's five.
Despite the support to Obama of the Clinary Union (a local union with 60000 members), Clinton won the popular vote. (Clinton 51%, Obama 45%, Edwards 4%). However, Obama won the majority of delegates (13 to 12 of Hillary). The math turns out to be a bit confusing, but the shorthand is this: The more populous Clark County, which Clinton won, awarded a even number of delegates, and Clinton and Obama split those down the middle. Meanwhile, the more rural areas, which Obama won, awarded an odd number of delegates, which gave Obama the edge.
It wasn't a High Noon quick draw that resolved the stalemate between Clinton and Obama - but a pack of cards. Under party rules, a pack was shuffled and a supporter from each camp asked to pick a card. Obama won both times. The quirk had little effect overall, and Mrs Clinton won the popular vote.The votes were tied after Saturday's caucuses by 26 votes each at a district in Genoa and 24-24 at Zephyr Cove near Lake Tahoe. At an elementary school in Genoa, caucus chairman Nancy Downey shuffled the pack of cards - which happened to have "Hillary" printed on the back - and spread them out on a table.Clinton supporter Greg Kuntz pulled out a five. An Obama supporter picked a king, clinching the vote, and securing an extra delegate to the next round of voting, when about 10,000 delegates meet at county level. "I drew the five to lose to the king," Mr Kuntz told the Associated Press. "Only in Nevada." Mr Obama's luck held in Zephyr Cove and his supporters again won the traditional Old West tiebreaker by picking a nine and trumping the Clinton camp's five.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The richest people in Asia
Forbes publishes such lists for different countries. Below are the links for China, India and Hong Kong.
China's 400 richest, Hong Kong's 40 richest, India's 40 richest.
China's 400 richest, Hong Kong's 40 richest, India's 40 richest.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Another failure of opinion polls in the US
The Michigan Republican primary was another instance that opinion polls seem to have failed in the US.
The result of the actual voting was
Romney: 39%, McCain: 30%, Huckabee: 16%, Paul: 6%, Thompson: 4%, Giuliani: 3%
and the results of the last polls were
The result of the actual voting was
Romney: 39%, McCain: 30%, Huckabee: 16%, Paul: 6%, Thompson: 4%, Giuliani: 3%
and the results of the last polls were
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sarkozy to ban advertising from state television
Nicolas Sarkozy was accused of lining the pockets of his media tycoon friends and exerting a Berlusconi-style grip on the airwaves, after he announced a plan to ban advertising from public television and revolutionise French state TV along the lines of the BBC.
Sarkozy, who moves in a circle of wealthy television owners and press barons and counts "Télépresident" among his numerous nicknames, surprised even his own culture minister this week when he announced that adverts should be eliminated from France's five state TV stations in the name of a "cultural revolution in public service television" (From the Guardian.)
Sarkozy, who moves in a circle of wealthy television owners and press barons and counts "Télépresident" among his numerous nicknames, surprised even his own culture minister this week when he announced that adverts should be eliminated from France's five state TV stations in the name of a "cultural revolution in public service television" (From the Guardian.)
Sarkozy chooses Sen and Stiglitz to advise on growth
Economics Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz have been handpicked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to advise France on the way in which it calculates its growth, news reports said.
France has been planning to include factors like 'quality of life' into the measurement of its economic growth, instead of going by the traditional methods of calculating gross national product, ever since Sarkozy assumed power.
Sarkozy's election promises included freeing up the economy and introducing more reforms so as to provide better living standards for the French.
Amartya Sen will be an advisor the French government, while American Joseph Stiglitz will be chairman of the committee of experts appointed to oversee the reform process.
Although the quality of life in France is said to be very good, the rate of the nation's economic growth has remained stagnant for some time now.
Nigeria sues tobacco firms for 40 billion dollars
The Nigerian government is suing three leading tobacco companies (British American Tobacco Plc, Philip Morris International and International Tobacco Ltd, a Nigerian company), seeking more than 40 billion dollars (29 billion euros) in damages for the cost of treating smoking-related diseases, according to court papers obtained Wednesday.
"It is the first time ever that an African state files a case against a tobacco company. No other state in Africa has ever done it," Babatunde Irukera, the lawyer representing the government told AFP.
"The exact amount the federal government is claiming is 5.3 trillion naira," (42 billion dollars) he told AFP.
The suit accuses them of concealing the harmful nature of smoking and of promoting underage smoking.
"The amount is certainly high for Africa, but it is far lower than the amounts that have been claimed in the USA for example," Irukera said, adding that one US state had claimed 286 billion dollars compensation.
Irukera also represents Nigeria in its 6.5-billion-dollar suit against US pharmaceuticals company Pfizer Inc. for an alleged illegal drug trial.
The government is also seeking an injunction compelling the companies to stop the marketing and sale of cigarettes.
more here.
What I find amazing is that in the link I provide and in the same news item, Marlboro has a big ad!
"It is the first time ever that an African state files a case against a tobacco company. No other state in Africa has ever done it," Babatunde Irukera, the lawyer representing the government told AFP.
"The exact amount the federal government is claiming is 5.3 trillion naira," (42 billion dollars) he told AFP.
The suit accuses them of concealing the harmful nature of smoking and of promoting underage smoking.
"The amount is certainly high for Africa, but it is far lower than the amounts that have been claimed in the USA for example," Irukera said, adding that one US state had claimed 286 billion dollars compensation.
Irukera also represents Nigeria in its 6.5-billion-dollar suit against US pharmaceuticals company Pfizer Inc. for an alleged illegal drug trial.
The government is also seeking an injunction compelling the companies to stop the marketing and sale of cigarettes.
more here.
What I find amazing is that in the link I provide and in the same news item, Marlboro has a big ad!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The failure of polls in New Hampshire
The results of the Democratic part primary may be the biggest failure of opinion polls since 1948.
Is the large turnout the only reason?
and the results, so far: Clinton 39% , Obama 36%, Edwards 17%,Richardson
Is the large turnout the only reason?
and the results, so far: Clinton 39% , Obama 36%, Edwards 17%,
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Is Obama the Reagan, or the Thatcher, of the left?
A few more news items on Obama that, in my opinion, explain his success. The article, reveals remarkable similarities between Obama and Reagan/Thatcher.
From the SF Chronicle (6/1/08) (By Debra Saunders)
...Iowa Democrats clearly decided not to repeat the mistake of 2004. In 2004, caucus-goers, who opposed the war in Iraq, put their weight behind John Kerry, who had voted for the Iraq war resolution, because they believed that Kerry was the Democrat who could win in November. Instead, the Dems lost in the most painful way possible, having sold out utterly and compromised their principles -- with nothing to show for it.
Caucus-goers rejected Hillary Clinton's siren song of inevitability and John Edwards' slick populist themes, and instead lined up behind Barack Obama, the one top-tier candidate who opposed the war in Iraq when it was popular.
Clinton can say she's the change candidate, but that doesn't make it so. Both Clinton and Edwards voted for the Iraq war and voted for the Patriot Act -- when the polls told them to. They have stood for nothing with unshakable conviction, except their own advancement. Iowa caucus-goers went for the new guy, instead of the same old excuses.
From The Australian (7/1/08)
(Andrew Sullivan, The Times).
...The analogy that worries Republicans the most is a more recent one. Could Obama be a potential liberal version of Ronald Reagan? Could he do for the Democrats what Reagan did for the Republicans a quarter century ago? It's increasingly possible. Reagan was the cutting edge of the previous realignment in US politics. With a good-natured civil appeal to Democrats who felt abandoned by their party under Jimmy Carter, Reagan revolutionised the reach of his party.
He didn't aim for a mere plurality, as Bill Clinton did. Nor did he go for a polarising 51 per cent strategy, as George W. Bush has done. He ran as a national candidate in search of a national mandate, a proud Republican who nonetheless wanted Democrats to vote for him.
He came out of a period in which Americans had become sickened by the incompetence of their government. Reagan shocked US elites by pivoting that discontent into a victory in 1980. And by his second term, he won 49 out of 50 states.
You can see the same potential in Obama. What has long been remarkable to me is how this liberal politician fails to alienate conservatives. In fact, many like him a great deal. His calm and reasoned demeanour, his crisp style, his refusal to engage in racial identity politics: these appeal to disaffected Republicans.
He is particularly attractive to those on the US Right who feel betrayed by the Bush administration's version of conservatism, just as many Democrats felt betrayed by Carter's liberalism.These voters -- non-evangelical, fiscally and militarily prudent, socially tolerant -- do not feel at home in the angry, southern, anti-immigrant Republican Party of the past few years. Almost one-quarter of those voting in the Democratic caucus last Thursday night were Republicans or independents.The other strikingly Reaganite aspect to Obama is his appeal to the younger generation. People forget that the oldest president was extremely popular among the under-30s.
Obama has kept his ego in check, but he is clearly aiming for a large mandate rather than a small win. He isn't a Clinton in this respect or even a Bush. He is a Reagan, a Margaret Thatcher of the Left.
From the SF Chronicle (6/1/08) (By Debra Saunders)
...Iowa Democrats clearly decided not to repeat the mistake of 2004. In 2004, caucus-goers, who opposed the war in Iraq, put their weight behind John Kerry, who had voted for the Iraq war resolution, because they believed that Kerry was the Democrat who could win in November. Instead, the Dems lost in the most painful way possible, having sold out utterly and compromised their principles -- with nothing to show for it.
Caucus-goers rejected Hillary Clinton's siren song of inevitability and John Edwards' slick populist themes, and instead lined up behind Barack Obama, the one top-tier candidate who opposed the war in Iraq when it was popular.
Clinton can say she's the change candidate, but that doesn't make it so. Both Clinton and Edwards voted for the Iraq war and voted for the Patriot Act -- when the polls told them to. They have stood for nothing with unshakable conviction, except their own advancement. Iowa caucus-goers went for the new guy, instead of the same old excuses.
From The Australian (7/1/08)
(Andrew Sullivan, The Times).
...The analogy that worries Republicans the most is a more recent one. Could Obama be a potential liberal version of Ronald Reagan? Could he do for the Democrats what Reagan did for the Republicans a quarter century ago? It's increasingly possible. Reagan was the cutting edge of the previous realignment in US politics. With a good-natured civil appeal to Democrats who felt abandoned by their party under Jimmy Carter, Reagan revolutionised the reach of his party.
He didn't aim for a mere plurality, as Bill Clinton did. Nor did he go for a polarising 51 per cent strategy, as George W. Bush has done. He ran as a national candidate in search of a national mandate, a proud Republican who nonetheless wanted Democrats to vote for him.
He came out of a period in which Americans had become sickened by the incompetence of their government. Reagan shocked US elites by pivoting that discontent into a victory in 1980. And by his second term, he won 49 out of 50 states.
You can see the same potential in Obama. What has long been remarkable to me is how this liberal politician fails to alienate conservatives. In fact, many like him a great deal. His calm and reasoned demeanour, his crisp style, his refusal to engage in racial identity politics: these appeal to disaffected Republicans.
He is particularly attractive to those on the US Right who feel betrayed by the Bush administration's version of conservatism, just as many Democrats felt betrayed by Carter's liberalism.These voters -- non-evangelical, fiscally and militarily prudent, socially tolerant -- do not feel at home in the angry, southern, anti-immigrant Republican Party of the past few years. Almost one-quarter of those voting in the Democratic caucus last Thursday night were Republicans or independents.The other strikingly Reaganite aspect to Obama is his appeal to the younger generation. People forget that the oldest president was extremely popular among the under-30s.
Obama has kept his ego in check, but he is clearly aiming for a large mandate rather than a small win. He isn't a Clinton in this respect or even a Bush. He is a Reagan, a Margaret Thatcher of the Left.
Newsweek on Obama
Newsweek, on the Jan.14, 2008 issue, has a cover story on Obama.
Here are some of the points that I found interesting.
-In public, Obama attributes his quick political rise to that "respectful tone," which he believes voters crave after so many ugly, dispiriting campaign seasons. (Which includes most races since 1800.) When he first began thinking about a White House bid, he told advisers that he would be willing to run only if he could do it his way, which meant defying the conventional campaign theology of hitting the other guy hard and first, sticking to simple sound bites and preaching only to the base. He has shown a willingness to stray from his script and risk engaging (or boring) audiences with rambling professorial explanations about the details of this or that policy. And he has tried to rewrite Karl Rove's campaign manual by reaching across racial and party lines to appeal to the broadest―rather than the very narrowest―base of supporters.
-In South Carolina—considered a critical primary for Obama, especially if he does not win or come in a close second in this week's New Hampshire primary—campaign workers have spent months recruiting barbers and hairdressers to preach the candidate's virtues to their customers.
-Although Obama's debate performances improved over time, his aides moaned whenever he gave long, discursive answers to simple questions instead of sticking to pithy sound bites that voters would remember.
-In the final three days in Iowa, Obama operatives made 150,000 phone calls to potential supporters.
Here are some of the points that I found interesting.
-In public, Obama attributes his quick political rise to that "respectful tone," which he believes voters crave after so many ugly, dispiriting campaign seasons. (Which includes most races since 1800.) When he first began thinking about a White House bid, he told advisers that he would be willing to run only if he could do it his way, which meant defying the conventional campaign theology of hitting the other guy hard and first, sticking to simple sound bites and preaching only to the base. He has shown a willingness to stray from his script and risk engaging (or boring) audiences with rambling professorial explanations about the details of this or that policy. And he has tried to rewrite Karl Rove's campaign manual by reaching across racial and party lines to appeal to the broadest―rather than the very narrowest―base of supporters.
-In South Carolina—considered a critical primary for Obama, especially if he does not win or come in a close second in this week's New Hampshire primary—campaign workers have spent months recruiting barbers and hairdressers to preach the candidate's virtues to their customers.
-Although Obama's debate performances improved over time, his aides moaned whenever he gave long, discursive answers to simple questions instead of sticking to pithy sound bites that voters would remember.
-In the final three days in Iowa, Obama operatives made 150,000 phone calls to potential supporters.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Quality of life index 2008
International living has devised an index with the above title. The 2008 index is as follows.
| Country | Cost of Living | Leisure & Culture | Economy | Environment | Freedom | Health | Infrastructure | Risk & Safety | Climate | Final Score |
| France | 50 | 98 | 85 | 72 | 100 | 100 | 95 | 100 | 87 | 85 |
| Switzerland | 35 | 91 | 100 | 78 | 100 | 98 | 94 | 100 | 77 | 84 |
| United States | 59 | 79 | 89 | 72 | 92 | 74 | 100 | 100 | 86 | 83 |
| Luxembourg | 36 | 81 | 98 | 80 | 100 | 92 | 78 | 100 | 83 | 82 |
| Germany | 45 | 87 | 69 | 83 | 100 | 94 | 85 | 100 | 79 | 80 |
| Australia | 36 | 75 | 68 | 80 | 100 | 91 | 91 | 100 | 93 | 79 |
| Italy | 51 | 100 | 58 | 74 | 100 | 93 | 65 | 100 | 87 | 78 |
| New Zealand | 43 | 87 | 60 | 83 | 100 | 92 | 65 | 100 | 84 | 77 |
| Spain | 50 | 72 | 54 | 75 | 100 | 94 | 71 | 100 | 87 | 76 |
| Netherlands | 32 | 85 | 60 | 67 | 100 | 91 | 88 | 100 | 85 | 75 |
| Norway | 27 | 82 | 78 | 78 | 100 | 95 | 61 | 100 | 71 | 74 |
| Belgium | 24 | 88 | 60 | 64 | 100 | 92 | 88 | 100 | 86 | 74 |
| Argentina | 66 | 71 | 44 | 66 | 100 | 86 | 63 | 100 | 93 | 74 |
| Austria | 31 | 83 | 61 | 87 | 100 | 90 | 70 | 100 | 76 | 74 |
| Uruguay | 67 | 76 | 40 | 72 | 100 | 80 | 62 | 100 | 93 | 74 |
| Canada | 47 | 78 | 63 | 62 | 100 | 88 | 82 | 100 | 67 | 74 |
| Japan | 14 | 97 | 75 | 71 | 92 | 94 | 69 | 100 | 84 | 74 |
| Portugal | 52 | 76 | 44 | 74 | 100 | 91 | 62 | 100 | 93 | 74 |
| Malta | 58 | 76 | 46 | 84 | 100 | 91 | 34 | 100 | 99 | 74 |
| Liechtenstein | 37 | 80 | 71 | 65 | 100 | 85 | 65 | 100 | 82 | 74 |
| Iceland | 28 | 90 | 63 | 74 | 100 | 91 | 59 | 100 | 74 | 72 |
| Lithuania | 58 | 72 | 43 | 81 | 100 | 84 | 56 | 100 | 79 | 72 |
| Hungary | 54 | 81 | 43 | 77 | 100 | 71 | 63 | 100 | 76 | 71 |
| Denmark | 20 | 60 | 65 | 84 | 100 | 90 | 72 | 100 | 78 | 71 |
| Finland | 28 | 69 | 63 | 68 | 100 | 86 | 75 | 100 | 76 | 71 |
| Costa Rica | 63 | 68 | 39 | 100 | 100 | 82 | 50 | 93 | 60 | 71 |
| Sweden | 11 | 76 | 63 | 75 | 100 | 87 | 88 | 100 | 68 | 71 |
| Bulgaria | 56 | 74 | 39 | 78 | 92 | 82 | 53 | 100 | 80 | 70 |
| Czech Republic | 41 | 82 | 46 | 74 | 100 | 86 | 61 | 100 | 67 | 70 |
| Slovenia | 42 | 74 | 49 | 74 | 100 | 76 | 56 | 100 | 83 | 70 |
| Greece | 37 | 68 | 50 | 70 | 100 | 89 | 60 | 100 | 79 | 70 |
| Poland | 41 | 78 | 43 | 72 | 100 | 84 | 63 | 93 | 76 | 69 |
| Ecuador | 66 | 63 | 35 | 93 | 83 | 73 | 41 | 86 | 100 | 69 |
| Mexico | 55 | 67 | 40 | 68 | 92 | 80 | 58 | 86 | 90 | 68 |
| Panama | 60 | 66 | 42 | 77 | 92 | 75 | 62 | 93 | 65 | 68 |
| Monaco | 31 | 90 | 60 | 30 | 92 | 85 | 60 | 100 | 89 | 68 |
| United Kingdom | 5 | 87 | 65 | 78 | 100 | 81 | 71 | 100 | 59 | 68 |
| Croatia | 25 | 72 | 40 | 77 | 100 | 80 | 56 | 100 | 95 | 68 |
| Brazil | 64 | 62 | 45 | 71 | 92 | 77 | 47 | 86 | 79 | 68 |
| Slovakia | 41 | 63 | 44 | 81 | 100 | 83 | 56 | 93 | 74 | 68 |
| Estonia | 55 | 60 | 47 | 77 | 100 | 66 | 60 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
| Andorra | 53 | 78 | 56 | 38 | 100 | 90 | 22 | 100 | 82 | 67 |
| Korea, South (Rep of) | 31 | 69 | 51 | 68 | 92 | 84 | 56 | 93 | 83 | 67 |
| Latvia | 54 | 79 | 46 | 51 | 100 | 68 | 60 | 86 | 73 | 67 |
| Romania | 45 | 78 | 39 | 75 | 92 | 68 | 56 | 86 | 84 | 67 |
| Belize | 65 | 50 | 36 | 93 | 92 | 69 | 53 | 93 | 60 | 66 |
| Dominica | 61 | 41 | 35 | 90 | 100 | 72 | 54 | 100 | 57 | 66 |
| Chile | 55 | 71 | 40 | 71 | 100 | 76 | 44 | 100 | 48 | 65 |
| South Africa | 47 | 63 | 40 | 75 | 92 | 56 | 47 | 86 | 98 | 65 |
| Colombia | 57 | 63 | 39 | 72 | 83 | 76 | 47 | 71 | 91 | 65 |
| Saint Kitts & Nevis | 58 | 47 | 36 | 72 | 100 | 74 | 55 | 100 | 57 | 65 |
| Ireland | 0 | 85 | 67 | 59 | 100 | 85 | 57 | 100 | 59 | 65 |
| Mauritius | 61 | 65 | 40 | 74 | 100 | 75 | 34 | 93 | 42 | 63 |
| Israel | 30 | 74 | 54 | 68 | 92 | 89 | 44 | 57 | 84 | 63 |
| Moldova | 65 | 66 | 32 | 75 | 58 | 71 | 56 | 71 | 91 | 63 |
| Cyprus (Greek) | 39 | 69 | 50 | 62 | 100 | 90 | 31 | 93 | 48 | 63 |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 46 | 59 | 43 | 74 | 83 | 52 | 63 | 100 | 57 | 62 |
| Namibia | 62 | 79 | 36 | 46 | 83 | 40 | 59 | 93 | 74 | 62 |
| Ukraine | 42 | 65 | 38 | 74 | 75 | 72 | 63 | 71 | 78 | 62 |
| Bolivia | 77 | 65 | 33 | 75 | 67 | 62 | 50 | 50 | 83 | 62 |
| Grenada | 49 | 56 | 33 | 75 | 92 | 69 | 59 | 86 | 57 | 62 |
| Taiwan | 44 | 50 | 54 | 75 | 92 | 72 | 34 | 79 | 68 | 62 |
| Cayman Islands | 56 | 41 | 60 | 26 | 92 | 80 | 47 | 100 | 57 | 62 |
| Macedonia | 62 | 68 | 36 | 72 | 67 | 65 | 47 | 71 | 79 | 62 |
| Paraguay | 73 | 63 | 33 | 64 | 67 | 74 | 34 | 86 | 68 | 62 |
| Botswana | 66 | 66 | 33 | 78 | 83 | 30 | 47 | 79 | 82 | 61 |
| Barbados | 27 | 62 | 44 | 72 | 100 | 65 | 50 | 100 | 57 | 61 |
| Bahamas | 18 | 71 | 51 | 74 | 100 | 53 | 44 | 100 | 65 | 61 |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 69 | 69 | 36 | 70 | 58 | 70 | 44 | 50 | 82 | 60 |
| Dominican Republic | 52 | 50 | 33 | 81 | 92 | 72 | 34 | 86 | 57 | 60 |
| Puerto Rico | 49 | 46 | 42 | 42 | 100 | 76 | 41 | 100 | 55 | 60 |
| Bermuda | 15 | 49 | 85 | 41 | 92 | 75 | 22 | 100 | 66 | 60 |
| Honduras | 66 | 34 | 35 | 70 | 67 | 69 | 41 | 79 | 83 | 59 |
| Seychelles | 54 | 62 | 36 | 78 | 67 | 54 | 41 | 100 | 55 | 59 |
| Albania | 55 | 65 | 36 | 74 | 67 | 78 | 41 | 64 | 65 | 59 |
| Tunisia | 58 | 65 | 38 | 68 | 25 | 77 | 38 | 86 | 85 | 59 |
| Jamaica | 52 | 47 | 33 | 77 | 75 | 75 | 50 | 79 | 57 | 59 |
| Turkey | 42 | 63 | 39 | 68 | 67 | 62 | 44 | 86 | 73 | 58 |
| Singapore | 45 | 75 | 60 | 39 | 42 | 78 | 53 | 100 | 39 | 58 |
| Nicaragua | 62 | 60 | 33 | 70 | 75 | 69 | 38 | 79 | 47 | 58 |
| Malaysia | 66 | 75 | 42 | 62 | 50 | 72 | 47 | 86 | 24 | 58 |
| Guatemala | 56 | 41 | 35 | 74 | 50 | 68 | 34 | 79 | 95 | 58 |
| Venezuela | 48 | 71 | 38 | 84 | 50 | 70 | 38 | 79 | 52 | 57 |
| Morocco | 35 | 37 | 38 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 34 | 100 | 92 | 57 |
| Georgia | 51 | 40 | 36 | 80 | 67 | 65 | 50 | 57 | 79 | 57 |
| Nauru | 85 | 9 | 39 | 64 | 100 | 57 | 13 | 100 | 38 | 57 |
| French Polynesia | 37 | 59 | 40 | 33 | 92 | 64 | 45 | 100 | 55 | 56 |
| Belarus | 61 | 78 | 40 | 75 | 8 | 54 | 56 | 64 | 77 | 56 |
| Cuba | 58 | 79 | 38 | 77 | 0 | 83 | 53 | 64 | 63 | 56 |
| Suriname | 61 | 47 | 36 | 78 | 83 | 62 | 44 | 64 | 39 | 56 |
| China | 51 | 68 | 61 | 54 | 8 | 71 | 47 | 57 | 89 | 56 |
| Thailand | 46 | 69 | 39 | 61 | 75 | 66 | 49 | 71 | 43 | 56 |
| Tonga | 66 | 26 | 32 | 65 | 50 | 69 | 41 | 100 | 63 | 56 |
| El Salvador | 58 | 46 | 35 | 65 | 75 | 73 | 41 | 79 | 42 | 56 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 21 | 38 | 50 | 78 | 75 | 66 | 38 | 100 | 57 | 56 |
| Armenia | 59 | 56 | 40 | 81 | 42 | 48 | 47 | 64 | 72 | 56 |
| Martinique | 58 | 38 | 40 | 38 | 92 | 68 | 16 | 100 | 57 | 56 |
| Guyana | 58 | 65 | 35 | 77 | 67 | 59 | 41 | 64 | 39 | 55 |
| Jordan | 51 | 63 | 36 | 59 | 42 | 84 | 34 | 71 | 68 | 55 |
| Mongolia | 63 | 63 | 35 | 70 | 83 | 58 | 50 | 64 | 14 | 55 |
| Brunei | 61 | 63 | 54 | 95 | 25 | 55 | 28 | 79 | 25 | 54 |
| Fiji | 46 | 50 | 35 | 68 | 58 | 63 | 59 | 79 | 43 | 54 |
| Palau | 54 | 50 | 40 | 70 | 100 | 55 | 19 | 86 | 18 | 54 |
| Lebanon | 63 | 59 | 31 | 65 | 42 | 76 | 41 | 21 | 92 | 54 |
| Bhutan | 77 | 29 | 36 | 83 | 25 | 20 | 31 | 100 | 79 | 54 |
| Peru | 55 | 51 | 39 | 70 | 75 | 59 | 38 | 57 | 45 | 54 |
| Ghana | 56 | 29 | 35 | 67 | 92 | 42 | 41 | 64 | 62 | 53 |
| Sri Lanka | 59 | 37 | 36 | 78 | 67 | 55 | 41 | 71 | 40 | 53 |
| Kiribati | 72 | 13 | 31 | 57 | 100 | 56 | 13 | 100 | 38 | 53 |
| Swaziland | 51 | 60 | 32 | 81 | 17 | 29 | 38 | 86 | 96 | 53 |
| Samoa (Western Samoa) | 49 | 22 | 33 | 68 | 83 | 71 | 50 | 79 | 35 | 53 |
| Lesotho | 66 | 40 | 32 | 41 | 75 | 31 | 31 | 71 | 93 | 53 |
| Malawi | 55 | 43 | 35 | 68 | 50 | 34 | 41 | 64 | 89 | 52 |
| Maldives | 58 | 66 | 44 | 36 | 25 | 63 | 31 | 100 | 49 | 52 |
| French Guiana | 42 | 35 | 39 | 29 | 92 | 58 | 56 | 100 | 28 | 52 |
| Russia | 20 | 71 | 43 | 71 | 25 | 75 | 53 | 57 | 72 | 52 |
| Madagascar | 56 | 29 | 32 | 59 | 67 | 39 | 34 | 64 | 92 | 52 |
| Bahrain | 52 | 71 | 51 | 64 | 33 | 45 | 31 | 86 | 30 | 51 |
| Philippines | 55 | 63 | 36 | 68 | 67 | 49 | 34 | 71 | 20 | 51 |
| Zambia | 51 | 46 | 33 | 71 | 50 | 20 | 41 | 64 | 89 | 51 |
| Comoros | 56 | 38 | 32 | 74 | 50 | 38 | 31 | 100 | 40 | 50 |
| Macau | 38 | 46 | 53 | 0 | 50 | 64 | 25 | 100 | 79 | 50 |
| Senegal | 44 | 19 | 32 | 67 | 75 | 38 | 34 | 79 | 73 | 50 |
| Syria | 65 | 51 | 33 | 61 | 0 | 71 | 44 | 64 | 60 | 50 |
| Egypt | 49 | 51 | 36 | 65 | 25 | 79 | 38 | 79 | 32 | 50 |
| Vanuatu | 48 | 38 | 36 | 33 | 83 | 53 | 34 | 79 | 49 | 50 |
| Vietnam | 48 | 56 | 36 | 71 | 17 | 61 | 38 | 57 | 67 | 49 |
| Solomon Islands | 65 | 29 | 32 | 61 | 67 | 64 | 3 | 79 | 43 | 49 |
| Benin | 55 | 25 | 32 | 64 | 83 | 36 | 38 | 64 | 51 | 49 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 54 | 44 | 32 | 70 | 42 | 61 | 34 | 64 | 47 | 49 |
| Cape Verde | 55 | 31 | 36 | 36 | 100 | 52 | 34 | 64 | 36 | 49 |
| India | 15 | 41 | 46 | 68 | 75 | 62 | 41 | 64 | 47 | 49 |
| Korea, North (DR of) | 59 | 57 | 32 | 51 | 0 | 80 | 22 | 64 | 79 | 49 |
| Nepal | 69 | 21 | 31 | 68 | 25 | 41 | 28 | 64 | 91 | 49 |
| Tuvalu | 77 | 4 | 32 | 30 | 100 | 56 | 16 | 100 | 17 | 49 |
| Kenya | 45 | 49 | 33 | 62 | 67 | 33 | 34 | 57 | 66 | 49 |
| Indonesia | 39 | 47 | 36 | 74 | 75 | 55 | 38 | 36 | 47 | 48 |
| Kuwait | 39 | 79 | 58 | 42 | 42 | 73 | 28 | 57 | 18 | 48 |
| Marshall Islands | 69 | 21 | 33 | 26 | 100 | 73 | 6 | 79 | 23 | 48 |
| Azerbaijan | 41 | 47 | 40 | 71 | 25 | 42 | 44 | 64 | 62 | 48 |
| Bangladesh | 61 | 16 | 35 | 62 | 50 | 39 | 50 | 64 | 49 | 47 |
| Uzbekistan | 66 | 66 | 33 | 62 | 0 | 58 | 41 | 57 | 40 | 47 |
| Kazakhstan | 44 | 49 | 40 | 65 | 25 | 63 | 53 | 64 | 27 | 47 |
| Tajikistan | 70 | 26 | 35 | 67 | 25 | 53 | 34 | 29 | 80 | 47 |
| Papua New Guinea | 48 | 24 | 33 | 64 | 67 | 38 | 41 | 57 | 55 | 47 |
| Qatar | 46 | 66 | 56 | 54 | 25 | 48 | 28 | 79 | 13 | 47 |
| Libya | 20 | 69 | 43 | 51 | 0 | 75 | 38 | 71 | 67 | 47 |
| Tanzania | 49 | 29 | 33 | 74 | 58 | 31 | 34 | 64 | 51 | 46 |
| Mayotte | 76 | 4 | 32 | 17 | 92 | 42 | 0 | 100 | 46 | 46 |
| Mozambique | 61 | 4 | 35 | 70 | 58 | 13 | 34 | 64 | 76 | 46 |
| Mali | 56 | 13 | 33 | 62 | 83 | 26 | 31 | 64 | 50 | 46 |
| Gambia | 56 | 10 | 33 | 61 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 71 | 60 | 46 |
| Micronesia | 54 | 38 | 32 | 42 | 100 | 70 | 6 | 71 | 5 | 46 |
| Myanmar (Burma) | 72 | 37 | 32 | 71 | 0 | 53 | 44 | 64 | 35 | 46 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 61 | 22 | 31 | 64 | 58 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 47 | 46 |
| Cambodia | 56 | 35 | 35 | 77 | 25 | 32 | 38 | 64 | 47 | 45 |
| Algeria | 45 | 54 | 36 | 67 | 25 | 53 | 34 | 29 | 70 | 45 |
| Iran | 61 | 57 | 38 | 52 | 17 | 50 | 41 | 20 | 64 | 45 |
| United Arab Emirates | 42 | 56 | 72 | 16 | 17 | 80 | 19 | 79 | 10 | 45 |
| Congo, Republic of | 46 | 41 | 35 | 61 | 33 | 29 | 41 | 57 | 62 | 45 |
| Togo | 48 | 46 | 31 | 64 | 25 | 34 | 34 | 64 | 58 | 44 |
| Turkmenistan | 82 | 24 | 38 | 61 | 0 | 43 | 16 | 57 | 61 | 44 |
| Uganda | 48 | 35 | 33 | 61 | 42 | 34 | 34 | 43 | 70 | 44 |
| Saudi Arabia | 55 | 72 | 42 | 51 | 8 | 74 | 31 | 36 | 22 | 44 |
| Gabon | 39 | 15 | 35 | 65 | 33 | 47 | 50 | 64 | 49 | 43 |
| Mauritania | 51 | 13 | 39 | 58 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 64 | 64 | 43 |
| Oman | 44 | 47 | 43 | 62 | 25 | 65 | 38 | 64 | 2 | 43 |
| Nigeria | 38 | 31 | 33 | 62 | 50 | 29 | 38 | 57 | 58 | 43 |
| Laos | 63 | 21 | 35 | 74 | 8 | 31 | 41 | 57 | 51 | 43 |
| Rwanda | 49 | 22 | 33 | 68 | 25 | 32 | 31 | 64 | 62 | 43 |
| Cameroon | 44 | 31 | 33 | 65 | 17 | 32 | 34 | 64 | 66 | 42 |
| Burundi | 46 | 26 | 32 | 57 | 50 | 31 | 31 | 36 | 75 | 42 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 34 | 49 | 48 | 75 | 8 | 25 | 38 | 50 | 55 | 42 |
| Burkina Faso | 56 | 6 | 33 | 65 | 50 | 23 | 31 | 64 | 48 | 42 |
| Niger | 56 | 3 | 32 | 64 | 67 | 19 | 28 | 64 | 42 | 42 |
| Central African Republic | 55 | 26 | 32 | 72 | 42 | 24 | 34 | 36 | 54 | 42 |
| Zimbabwe | 24 | 62 | 0 | 77 | 8 | 34 | 41 | 64 | 93 | 42 |
| Ethiopia | 49 | 12 | 36 | 67 | 33 | 11 | 31 | 57 | 76 | 41 |
| Haiti | 55 | 21 | 32 | 61 | 42 | 39 | 28 | 36 | 53 | 41 |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 49 | 28 | 31 | 67 | 17 | 35 | 34 | 43 | 55 | 40 |
| Pakistan | 51 | 3 | 35 | 67 | 25 | 54 | 34 | 7 | 77 | 40 |
| Angola | 35 | 38 | 43 | 67 | 25 | 2 | 34 | 57 | 52 | 39 |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of | 27 | 31 | 33 | 58 | 17 | 31 | 38 | 64 | 62 | 39 |
| Eritrea | 56 | 25 | 31 | 29 | 8 | 29 | 38 | 57 | 73 | 39 |
| Guinea | 62 | 15 | 32 | 61 | 25 | 32 | 34 | 57 | 22 | 39 |
| Liberia | 52 | 41 | 35 | 57 | 50 | 14 | 38 | 21 | 28 | 38 |
| Chad | 38 | 18 | 31 | 68 | 25 | 15 | 34 | 57 | 50 | 37 |
| Djibouti | 46 | 13 | 32 | 65 | 33 | 36 | 38 | 57 | 8 | 37 |
| Sierra Leone | 58 | 7 | 18 | 62 | 45 | 10 | 34 | 21 | 24 | 32 |
| Sudan | 46 | 21 | 36 | 65 | 0 | 28 | 38 | 29 | 7 | 31 |
| Yemen | 52 | 22 | 31 | 19 | 33 | 40 | 31 | 36 | 0 | 31 |
| Afghanistan | 76 | 7 | 20 | 54 | 8 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 61 | 31 |
| Somalia | 62 | 0 | 28 | 55 | 12 | 7 | 35 | 36 | 16 | 30 |
| Iraq | 100 | 20 | 10 | 32 | 0 | 20 | 15 | 0 | 38 | 29 |
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