Bo's shared items in Google Reader

Man Kidnapped, Force-Fed Beer

2009-07-14T17:40:53Z

Shared by Bo
Sadly, this story was not fraternity-pledge related, as I was hoping.

Another awesome headline in the news these days….

A man was kidnapped, force-fed beer and then abandoned on a Utah roadside in a possible case of mistaken identity, police say.

The victim — whose name and age were not available — was found by a passer-by walking across Legacy Highway near Centerville at about 9 a.m. Saturday, the Deseret News reported.

The man said he had been kidnapped roughly three hours earlier, according to Salt Lake Police Sgt. Dennis McGowan.

The victim, who was not seriously injured, told police he parked his car near his home when two Spanish-speaking men dragged him out into the driveway, the newspaper reported.

He was then allegedly thrown into their red pickup truck, where he claims the men pulled a bag over his head, bound his hands and feet with a wire coat hanger and put a gun to his stomach.

“They told him this was their area and that he can’t sell drugs here,” McGowan told the Deseret News.

McGowan told the paper the kidnappers force-fed the man two cans of beer prior to throwing him out of the truck, probably in an attempt to pass him off as a drunk who concocted the abduction story.

Two empty beer cans and a mangled wire hanger found on the side of the highway seemed to confirm the victim’s account, McGowan told the Deseret News.

C.I.A. Had Plan to Assassinate Qaeda Leaders

2009-07-14T17:01:26Z

Shared by Bo
Unclear why this plan was cancelled. Assasinated Al Qaeda leaders seems like a good thing to me.

The program was designed after the Sept. 11 attacks, but the plans were never carried out before Leon E. Panetta, the C.I.A. director, canceled it last month.

Bayes Software...the next big effort

2009-07-14T16:31:21Z

Historically, Bayesian solutions were computed as needed in formal languages(Fortran, C,java,etc...) and later in high level solutions like Matlab,Gauss,SAS/IML and others. Then Winbugs came along and offered a higher level interface, similar to what Matlab did for linear algebra syntax and functionality, but closer in spirit to the notation used by Statisticans to depict multilevel probability based models. While all of these still have their pros and cons, we find now an explosion of Bayesian solutions implemented in R with the benefit of object orientation. If one takes a look at the "CRAN Task View: Bayesian Inference" page on the R site maintained by Jong Hee Park, one will find 60+ packages with numerous solutions to many standard statistical modeling problems. Of the many listed, note the package BAS for Bayesian Model Averaging in linear models using stochastic or deterministic sampling without replacement from posterior distributions. Prior distributions on coefficients are from Zellner's g-prior or mixtures of g-priors corresponding to the Zellner-Siow Cauchy Priors or the Liang et al hyper-g priors. The stochastic search capability allows for model specification searches that would not have been possible a few years ago with the ease that is now possible.

Sean Gourley checks in

2009-07-14T16:04:40Z

Remember when I sent up a flare asking for help in understanding physicist Sean Gourley's claim that he has found a mathematical pattern of violence in different wars?

We seem to have a better class of reader than even I thought. Professor Gourley himself responds with this note, which I am publishing with his permission:

With this new approach we can do several important things that were not possible before. We can understand the underlying structure of an insurgency i.e. how an insurgency 'decides' to distribute its forces (weapons, people, money etc). Further, we can explain why this kind of insurgent structure emerges in multiple different conflict zones around the world. We can estimate the number of autonomous insurgent groups operating within a theatre of war. We can monitor and track a conflict through time to see how either sides strategies are affecting the state of the war. Finally we can compare the mathematical patterns of current ongoing wars with past wars to estimate how close they are to ending."

This is a pretty sweeping set of assertions. I still don't see it. But that may be my fault. Smart, statistically-comfortable readers: Do you see support for these claims?

whiteafrican/Flickr

Dynasties in college legacy admissions

2009-07-12T10:56:46Z

Shared by Bo
NICE.

Along with other kinds of affirmative action, colleges are likely to give preferential status to applicants whose parents and other close relatives have attended. The idea seems to be that having a relationship with a family increases donations. (For example, imagine that one of your descendents will become a billionaire and look for a big philanthropic outlet. If everyone in the family has gone to Family U., maybe this urge will turn into a new campus building, whereas if everyone in your family went to a different college, maybe this philanthropy would go to the poor...)

This intuition receives some support in a recent paper, by authors at Stanford and Princeton, who study an anonymous but selective university.

Family Bonding with Universities by Jonathan Meer, Stanford University, and Harvey S. Rosen, Princeton University
From the abstract:
"One justification offered for legacy admissions policies at universities is that that they bind entire families to the university. Proponents maintain that these policies have a number of benefits, including increased donations from members of these families. We use a rich set of data from an anonymous selective research institution to investigate which types of family members have the most important effect upon donative behavior. We find that the effects of attendance by members of the younger generation (children, children-in-law, nieces and nephews) are greater than the effects of attendance by older generations (parents, parents-in-law, aunts and uncles). "

Stealing Data Via Electrical Outlet

2009-07-12T08:57:00Z

Ponca City, We love you writes "NetworkWorld reports that security consultants Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco are preparing to unveil their methodology at the Black Hat USA conference for stealing information typed on a computer keyboard using nothing more than the power outlet to which the computer is connected. When you type on a standard computer keyboard, electrical signals run through the cable to the PC. Those cables aren't shielded, so the signal leaks via the ground wire in the cable and into the ground wire on the computer's power supply. The attacker connects a probe to a nearby power socket, detects the ground leakage, and converts the signal back into alphanumeric characters. So far, the attack has proven successful using outlets up to about 15 meters away. The cost of the equipment to carry out the power-line attack could be as little as $500 and while the researchers admit their hacking tools are rudimentary, they believe they could be improved upon with a little time, effort and backing. 'If our small research was able to accomplish acceptable results in a brief development time (approximately a week of work) and with cheap hardware,' they say, 'Consider what a dedicated team or government agency can accomplish with more expensive equipment and effort.'"

Prius Effect

2009-07-11T19:59:59Z

Shared by Bo
Geez. I don't vouch for the vericity of this study, but it looks to me like the Prius crowd doesn't even deny being image-driven. Sound sustainable to you?

Why do people buy green products? A new study (h/t: Charlotta Mellander) finds that green purchases are less about energy, or cost, savings and more about image. Prius owners pay a significant premium over many conventional fuel-efficient cars. When asked about the top motivating factors behind their purchase, "makes a statement about me" was at the top of the list, while "higher fuel economy" came in third, and "lower emissions," fifth. The authors argue that status plays a big role in green purchases.

Because biologists have observed that altruism might function as a "costly signal" associated with status, we examined in three experiments how status motives influenced desire for green products. Activating status motives led people to choose green products over more luxurious non-green products. Supporting the notion that altruism signals one's willingness and ability to incur costs for others' benefit, status motives increased desire for green products when shopping in public (but not private), and when green products cost more (but not less) than nongreen products.

Op-Ed Contributor: A Better Way to Get a Kidney

2009-07-11T04:50:54Z

Only a few changes in our attitudes and laws could not only reduce the wait for organ replacement, but assure an organ for someone in need of one.

When does libertarian paternalism work?

2009-07-11T17:36:00Z

Not always. Here is the abstract from a new paper:

We develop a theoretical model to study the effects of libertarian paternalism on knowledge acquisition and social learning. Individuals in our model are permitted to appreciate and use the information content in the default options set by the government. We show that in some settings libertarian paternalism may decrease welfare because default options slow information aggregation in the market. We also analyze what happens when the government acquires imprecise information about individuals, and characterize its incentives to avoid full disclosure of its information to the market, even when it has perfect information. Finally, we consider a market in which individuals can sell their information to others and show that the presence of default options causes the quality of advice to decrease, which may lower social welfare.

I do not yet see an ungated version. Of course anyone interested in this topic should also pursue the papers of Mario Rizzo, Glen Whitman, and Daniel Klein.

Comment on Andrew Gelman makes more sense than Robin Hanson. by Jason Ruspini

2009-07-11T16:36:58Z

It is often useful to think as Robin does that “X is not about X”. At some point content becomes less important than fostering relationships in many pursuits. I am pretty sure that parents mostly pay for prestige when they send their children to big name colleges, because the price differential vs discounted state schools is so large. For an undergrad education, the content of the instruction can’t vary by an order of magnitude, as prices would imply with a “commonsense” interpretation. Andrew view’s is right about the logical function and history of academia, but he needs to elaborate it more to justify it from an economic perspective.

You could argue that parent are paying for future relationships outside of a signalling framework.

Or you could try to argue that eventually signals will revert to fundamental values in-line with underlying education. It is interesting that Robin often takes the “X is not about X” tack, yet has relatively sanguine views about the sustainability of market manipulation. In many markets, the price of X can stray from being mainly about X for some time.

Infighting Distracts Unions at Crucial Time

2009-07-09T18:58:01Z

The labor movement’s allies control the White House and Congress, but union leaders have been distracted by disputes.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH: No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy…

2009-07-11T17:09:15Z

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH:

No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves — (applause) — or if police — if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. (Applause.) No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top — (applause) — or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. (Applause.) That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there.

American businessmen, meanwhile, are exclaiming, only twenty percent?

WASHINGTON POST: The stumbles that led to an ethics blunder. If it were some other business, we’…

2009-07-11T17:16:03Z

WASHINGTON POST: The stumbles that led to an ethics blunder.

If it were some other business, we’d be hearing about “greed,” not “stumbles.”

Obama Student Loan Plan Wins Support in House

2009-07-11T10:44:58Z

The plan, which would end the role of banks in federal student loans, faces strong industry opposition.

[image: New York Post]

BIFF! WHAM! POW!

By BETH STEBNER

2009-07-10T14:58:34Z

Shared by Bo
"Their comic-book adventure went awry when cops approached the dynamic duo on 43rd Street to see whether they had the required license to perform in costume in public, Frisoli said."

You need a license to wear a costume in public?

BIFF! WHAM! POW!

By BETH STEBNER and JENNIFER FERMINO

July 10, 2009 --

Superman and Batman took on New York's Finest last night in an epic Crossroads of the World battle that left the Caped Crusader in cuffs.

Stunned Times Square tourists and office workers watched agog as cops struggled to subdue Clark Kent's alter ego without kryptonite.

"The Man of Steel didn't go down with just two officers, it took seven officers!" witness Ryan McCormick said. "He was putting up a good fight. Little kids were like, 'Mommy, it's Superman!' "

If that wasn't weird enough, McCormick turned and saw the Dark Knight handcuffed to a chair like a common villain.

"As this was happening, someone is like, 'It's Batman!' I turn around and there's Batman in handcuffs," he said.

Superman, aka Maksim Katsnelson, 23, of The Bronx, was arrested and charged with assault and resisting arrested, police said, accusing him of punching a female officer in the face while she was trying to subdue him.

The incident occurred when cops approached Katsnelson, who was panhandling, and asked him for ID.

When Katsnelson said he didn't have any ID, cops continued to ask him questions, sources said.

That's when Katsnelson punched the female officer, sources said.

"He freaked out and punched the girl cop in the face," Batman said later.

Cops cuffed Batman, actually Frank Frisoli, but let him go because he didn't cause any problems, he told The Post.

The Maine resident, who has been visiting the city for two weeks, said the two had dressed up as the super heroes for laughs.

"We were just having a good time," Frisoli said.

Their comic-book adventure went awry when cops approached the dynamic duo on 43rd Street to see whether they had the required license to perform in costume in public, Frisoli said.

When they said no, cops asked for IDs. Again, they answered no, which prompted cops to handcuff Batman.

That's when Superman took off, screaming, "I'm not getting arrested."

But a crowd of police took him down and brought him to a special Fortress of Solitude -- the Midtown South station house.

Meanwhile, Batman left with another costumed character, said Melba Williams, a tourist from Tennessee.

"He walked off with the Statue of Liberty."

Additional reporting by Philip Messing

jennifer.fermino@nypost.com

Home

NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc. NYPOST.COM, NYPOSTONLINE.COM, and NEWYORKPOST.COM
are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc.
Copyright 2009 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

Insta-Bait

2009-07-10T13:05:00Z

Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov told reporters:

"I said that I had thoroughly studied the U.S. president's anti-crisis program, that I liked it, as well as that it is socially oriented and primarily aimed at supporting poor people and enhancing the state's role. I said all this to President Obama."

IN THE BOSTON GLOBE, ALEX BEAM: It is inevitable in modern American politics that each new presid…

2009-07-10T11:22:12Z

IN THE BOSTON GLOBE, ALEX BEAM:

It is inevitable in modern American politics that each new president inaugurates his own brand of bushwa - rubbish, lies, eyewash, whatever you choose to call it - that reminds one of nothing so much as the previous guy’s bushwa. Mr. Obama is no exception. . . . Remember signing statements? Those were the dastardly little postscripts George Bush attached to legislation that he didn’t completely approve of. Signing statements ignore the “fundamental principle’’ of the separation of powers, the American Bar Association huffed. On the campaign trail, candidate Obama was asked, “Do you promise not to use presidential [signing statements] to get your way?’’ “Yes,’’ he answered. “I taught the Constitution for 10 years, I believe in the Constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States. We are not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end run around Congress.’’

That was easy!

Less easy is explaining away his six signing statements so far, an impressive one-a-month clip. “Signing statements serve a legitimate function in our system,’’ Obama now says, “at least when based on well-founded constitutional objections.’’ Mr. President, meet my friend George Orwell, inventor of Newspeak, who memorably wrote, “Political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.’’

New bushwa same as the old bushwa? It’s a lot less different than we had been led to believe.

Hope and ~~Change~~ Same!

MORE ON THE MANCESSION. With a scary graphic. Why is it happening? That’s discussed her…

2009-07-10T12:02:32Z

Condom dresses are so vogue right now…

2009-07-10T13:00:59Z

Submitted by Amy F

Spread the WTFitude

Google CEO Schmidt Thought Building OS Was A Lousy Idea

2009-07-10T12:04:00Z

Google CEO Eric Schmidt spoke with reporters at Allen & Co's media summit in Sun Valley for 75 minutes yesterday.

Here's what he said:

He spent the past six years telling cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page that Google (GOOG) wasn't ready to take on Microsoft (MSFT) in an operating systems war. Now it is.
Eric doesn't think there's a conflict of interest that should keep him off the Apple (AAPL) board, but he's willing to talk to Apple about it.
As for the economy, Eric sees sluggish growth and consumer frugality as the "new normal."

Sun Valley photos here →

Read the rest of this story »