QUESTA MI PARE interessante:
"Due to recent financial difficulties, the light at the end of the tunnel has been temporarily turned off."
-- Placard seen at Applebees Restaurant, Richland, Wash.
30.10.08
29.10.08
Lavori di intelligence
PARE CHE NEGLI Usa ci saranno tagli per lo spionaggio. Anche perché la spesa è parecchio consistente...
Money quote: Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. spent $47.5 billion on spying in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a 9 percent increase over 2007, according to Michael McConnell, the country's head of intelligence.
Last year, Congress passed a law requiring the director of national intelligence to make public the amount of money appropriated annually for spying. The Bush administration opposed the measure, arguing that revealing the number might compromise operations.
In 2007, the U.S. spent $43.5 billion on spying, according to McConnell.
The law doesn't require the release of any details on how the money is spent ``because such disclosures could harm national security,'' McConnell said in a statement today.
The spending figure doesn't include money spent on military tactical intelligence. Funding for these operations would be at least an additional $10 billion, said Steven Aftergood, director of the project on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington.
The group sued the Central Intelligence Agency in 1997 to force the release of the total intelligence budget. The intelligence community disclosed that its annual budget was $26 billion in both 1997 and 1998.
Money quote: Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. spent $47.5 billion on spying in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a 9 percent increase over 2007, according to Michael McConnell, the country's head of intelligence.
Last year, Congress passed a law requiring the director of national intelligence to make public the amount of money appropriated annually for spying. The Bush administration opposed the measure, arguing that revealing the number might compromise operations.
In 2007, the U.S. spent $43.5 billion on spying, according to McConnell.
The law doesn't require the release of any details on how the money is spent ``because such disclosures could harm national security,'' McConnell said in a statement today.
The spending figure doesn't include money spent on military tactical intelligence. Funding for these operations would be at least an additional $10 billion, said Steven Aftergood, director of the project on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington.
The group sued the Central Intelligence Agency in 1997 to force the release of the total intelligence budget. The intelligence community disclosed that its annual budget was $26 billion in both 1997 and 1998.
26.10.08
25.10.08
24.10.08
Peccatucci veniali degli analisti di mercato: praticamente bagatelle...
APPLE È ANDATA meglio in Borsa di buona parte delle altre aziende quotate, nei giorni scorsi, a seguito di risultati finanziari molto positivi. Il titolo, per farla breve, è salito e non poco. In un momento in cui le Borse invece andavano a picco. Il fenomeno è stato previsto dagli analisti di mercato? No, per niente: i "consigli" erano tali da far anzi abbassare il valore titolo. Però c'è chi ci ha visto giusto: blogger specializzati che seguono Apple hanno azzeccato alla grande le previsioni. Tanto da aver ispirato un articolo su Fortune di cui vi consiglio la lettura se siete interessati a questo tipo di cose. Il senso è: i blogger ci capiscono di Borsa più che non gli analisti specializzati.
Ma c'è di più. Perché leggendo invece questo, ho scoperto che la tendenza degli analisti a sbagliare le previsioni si accompagna anche ad un'altra inquietante tendenza: correggerle a posteriori. Tre economisti (Alexander Ljungqvist , Christopher J. Malloy e Felicia C. Marston ) hanno pubblicato una inquietante ricerca lo scorso 16 aprile. Sono piccole bagatelle che dovrebbero, se verificate, non solo costare il lavoro a un bel po' di gente, ma anche portare a indagini della Sec (e della nostra Consob) e pure alla chiusura di qualche società specializzata in questo tipo di analisi...
Money quote:
Rewriting History
Abstract
We document widespread ex post changes to the historical contents of the I/B/E/S analyst stock recommendations database. Across a sequence of seven downloads of the entire I/B/E/S recommendations database, obtained between 2000 and 2007, we find that between 6,594 (1.6%) and 97,579 (21.7%) of matched observations are different from one download to the next. The changes, which include alterations of recommendation levels, additions and deletions of records, and removal of analyst names, are non-random in nature: They cluster by analyst reputation, brokerage firm size and status, and recommendation boldness. The changes have a large and significant impact on the classification of trading signals and back-tests of three stylized facts: The profitability of trading signals, the profitability of changes in consensus recommendations, and persistence in individual analyst stock-picking ability.
In italiano per tutti, questa per me si chiama truffa.
Ma c'è di più. Perché leggendo invece questo, ho scoperto che la tendenza degli analisti a sbagliare le previsioni si accompagna anche ad un'altra inquietante tendenza: correggerle a posteriori. Tre economisti (Alexander Ljungqvist , Christopher J. Malloy e Felicia C. Marston ) hanno pubblicato una inquietante ricerca lo scorso 16 aprile. Sono piccole bagatelle che dovrebbero, se verificate, non solo costare il lavoro a un bel po' di gente, ma anche portare a indagini della Sec (e della nostra Consob) e pure alla chiusura di qualche società specializzata in questo tipo di analisi...
Money quote:
Rewriting History
Abstract
We document widespread ex post changes to the historical contents of the I/B/E/S analyst stock recommendations database. Across a sequence of seven downloads of the entire I/B/E/S recommendations database, obtained between 2000 and 2007, we find that between 6,594 (1.6%) and 97,579 (21.7%) of matched observations are different from one download to the next. The changes, which include alterations of recommendation levels, additions and deletions of records, and removal of analyst names, are non-random in nature: They cluster by analyst reputation, brokerage firm size and status, and recommendation boldness. The changes have a large and significant impact on the classification of trading signals and back-tests of three stylized facts: The profitability of trading signals, the profitability of changes in consensus recommendations, and persistence in individual analyst stock-picking ability.
In italiano per tutti, questa per me si chiama truffa.
21.10.08
The Fable II day
OGGI ESCE FABLE II, un gioco che si prospetta alquanto interessante.
Money quote: Developer Lionhead Studios (and, one suspects, designer Peter Molyneux in particular) very much wants you to be aware of its sex-related feature set: the first item I encountered for sale by a merchant was a condom. Not long afterwards, my dog excitedly guided me to some buried treasure, and then panted and wagged his tail happily as I dug up another prophylactic.
Propositioning partners basically involves performing a bunch of wordless, amusing social gestures in front of them until their social meters indicate they're willing, and then inviting them to your bed. Marriage proposals are similar, with a wedding ring icon on the "love" meter indicating when they will acquiesce to your proposal.
Those condoms come into play when you do the deed. There's a binary choice of protected sex or unprotected sex each time; heterosexual couples can bear children.
Fable II esce oggi negli Usa, il 23 in Australia e il 24 in Europa, Italia compresa (in Giappone il 18 dicembre).
Money quote: Developer Lionhead Studios (and, one suspects, designer Peter Molyneux in particular) very much wants you to be aware of its sex-related feature set: the first item I encountered for sale by a merchant was a condom. Not long afterwards, my dog excitedly guided me to some buried treasure, and then panted and wagged his tail happily as I dug up another prophylactic.
Propositioning partners basically involves performing a bunch of wordless, amusing social gestures in front of them until their social meters indicate they're willing, and then inviting them to your bed. Marriage proposals are similar, with a wedding ring icon on the "love" meter indicating when they will acquiesce to your proposal.
Those condoms come into play when you do the deed. There's a binary choice of protected sex or unprotected sex each time; heterosexual couples can bear children.
Fable II esce oggi negli Usa, il 23 in Australia e il 24 in Europa, Italia compresa (in Giappone il 18 dicembre).
La crisi per tutti
IL DISASTRO IN corso reso semplice (se seguite l'inglese) con l'esempio della spedizione Antartica.
20.10.08
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
L'AFFASCIANTE STORIA DEL Bocelli australiano; quello che quando canta non si capisce una ramazza, ma dalla sua gola escono 80.000 anni di storia con una bellezza trascendentale...
CANBERRA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, a blind Aboriginal man hailed as the greatest voice Australia has ever recorded, carried the night at the country's top music awards, despite most awards going to a 17-year-old schoolgirl.
Blind since birth, Gurrumul, 37, speaks almost no English, but has become a sensation in his homeland, with a haunting, lilting voice and lyrics sung in three indigenous languages which few Australians understand.
"He captures a very particular feeling that is part of Yolngu culture, about pining but at the same time feeling happy, about longing for your land but not worrying about it," spokesman Michael Hohnen told Australian media.
The acutely shy Gurrumul, a self-taught outback guitarist who plays his instrument upside down, stunned crowds at the annual Australian Record Industry Awards night on Sunday, winning best independent release.
Critics have described his voice as having "transcendental beauty". Others compare it to "slow rain".
Sting, Elton John, and Icelandic singer Bjork are fans, along with Australian former rock star and Arts Minister Peter Garrett, who recently said the Elcho Island-born singer had penned the greatest songs he had ever heard.
"You're hearing 80,000 years coming out of one little throat," said critic Hugh Benjamin.
Gurrumul has so far refused to give in to public hype and said he uses music awards to open clams at his island home in Arnhem Land, 560 kilometres (350 miles) east of Darwin.
When Gurrumul sings live, English translations of his songs are usually beamed onto a screen behind him. The singer rarely talks to media and feels journalists are "hunting him like a kangaroo, trying to spear him", Hohnen told the Age newspaper.
Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up about 2 percent of the population. They suffer higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence, and have a life expectancy 17 years shorter than other Australians.
Gurrumul's award night performance brought silence to the crowd who waved hands overhead in appreciation, stealing the night from teenage music sensation Gabriella Cilmi, who won six categories, including best female artist.
Gurrumul released his first self-titled solo album in March this year, hitting number 1. on local album charts and Apple's iTunes Roots chart.
CANBERRA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, a blind Aboriginal man hailed as the greatest voice Australia has ever recorded, carried the night at the country's top music awards, despite most awards going to a 17-year-old schoolgirl.
Blind since birth, Gurrumul, 37, speaks almost no English, but has become a sensation in his homeland, with a haunting, lilting voice and lyrics sung in three indigenous languages which few Australians understand.
"He captures a very particular feeling that is part of Yolngu culture, about pining but at the same time feeling happy, about longing for your land but not worrying about it," spokesman Michael Hohnen told Australian media.
The acutely shy Gurrumul, a self-taught outback guitarist who plays his instrument upside down, stunned crowds at the annual Australian Record Industry Awards night on Sunday, winning best independent release.
Critics have described his voice as having "transcendental beauty". Others compare it to "slow rain".
Sting, Elton John, and Icelandic singer Bjork are fans, along with Australian former rock star and Arts Minister Peter Garrett, who recently said the Elcho Island-born singer had penned the greatest songs he had ever heard.
"You're hearing 80,000 years coming out of one little throat," said critic Hugh Benjamin.
Gurrumul has so far refused to give in to public hype and said he uses music awards to open clams at his island home in Arnhem Land, 560 kilometres (350 miles) east of Darwin.
When Gurrumul sings live, English translations of his songs are usually beamed onto a screen behind him. The singer rarely talks to media and feels journalists are "hunting him like a kangaroo, trying to spear him", Hohnen told the Age newspaper.
Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up about 2 percent of the population. They suffer higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence, and have a life expectancy 17 years shorter than other Australians.
Gurrumul's award night performance brought silence to the crowd who waved hands overhead in appreciation, stealing the night from teenage music sensation Gabriella Cilmi, who won six categories, including best female artist.
Gurrumul released his first self-titled solo album in March this year, hitting number 1. on local album charts and Apple's iTunes Roots chart.
Elli-telli-uuhh?
NEL FORUM DI Airliners.net c'è dibattito su come si pronunci correttamente "Alitalia". Salta fuori che spiegarsi per iscritto tra genti di parti diverse del mondo è un po' meno semplice di quanto non sembri. Meno male che ci sono siti come questo che aiutano...
Money quote:
A) I reckon if you say it as it reads here you get an easy idea of how it should sound..... "ally tally ah"
B) ...if you're from the UK Midlands, that is.
A) Naah, that would be "elli-telli-uuhh".
Money quote:
A) I reckon if you say it as it reads here you get an easy idea of how it should sound..... "ally tally ah"
B) ...if you're from the UK Midlands, that is.
A) Naah, that would be "elli-telli-uuhh".
19.10.08
L'avventura continua
LICENZIATO DAL GIORNALE, adesso Rick Redfern combatte nell'arena dei blog. Doonesbury di Garry B. Trudeau, come ogni domenica
17.10.08
Berlusconi, Brunetta e Gelmini studiati da Nature
PARE CHE LA politica italiana sollevi indirettamente l'interesse delle grandi riviste-vetrina della scienza mondiale. Nature dedica ampio spazio a quel che succede nel mondo dell'università e della ricerca del nostro Paese.
Money quote: Indeed, Italy has already embraced this concept by signing up to the European Union's 2000 Lisbon agenda, in which member states pledged to raise their research and development (R&D) budgets to 3% of their gross domestic product. Italy, a G8 country, has one of the lowest R&D expenditures in that group — at barely 1.1%, less than half that of comparable countries such as France and Germany.
The government needs to consider more than short-term gains brought about through a system of decrees made easy by compliant ministers. If it wants to prepare a realistic future for Italy, as it should, it should not idly reference the distant past, but understand how research works in Europe in the present.
(via Antonello Pasini)
Money quote: Indeed, Italy has already embraced this concept by signing up to the European Union's 2000 Lisbon agenda, in which member states pledged to raise their research and development (R&D) budgets to 3% of their gross domestic product. Italy, a G8 country, has one of the lowest R&D expenditures in that group — at barely 1.1%, less than half that of comparable countries such as France and Germany.
The government needs to consider more than short-term gains brought about through a system of decrees made easy by compliant ministers. If it wants to prepare a realistic future for Italy, as it should, it should not idly reference the distant past, but understand how research works in Europe in the present.
(via Antonello Pasini)
Mai dimenticarsi i fondamentali
OGGI STAVO PENSANDO: che meraviglia poter tornare a casa e rileggersi Les Fleurs Blues di Raymond Queneau. Anzi, che meraviglia essere a casa, sul terrazzino assolato, a leggersi Les Fleurs Blues di Queneau...
Le vingt-cinq septembre douze cent soixante-quatre, au petit jour, le duc d'Auge se pointa sur le sommet du donjon de son château pour y considérer, un tantinet soit peu, la situation historique. Elle était plutôt floue. Des restes du passé traînaient encore çà et là, en vrac. Sur les bords du ru voisin, campaient deux Huns; non loin d'eux un Gaulois, Éduen peut-être, trempait audacieusement ses pieds dans l'eau courante et fraîche. Sur l'horizon se dessinaient les silhouettes molles de Romains fatigués, de Sarrasins de Corinthe, de Francs anciens, d'Alains seuls. Quelques Normands buvaient du calva.
Le duc d'Auge soupira mais n'en continua pas moins d'examiner attentivement ces phénomènes usés.
Les Huns préparaient des stèques tartares, le Gaulois fumait une gitane, les Romains dessinaient des grecques, les Sarrasins fauchaient de l'avoine, les Francs cherchaient des sols et les Alains regardaient cinq Ossètes. Les Normands buvaient du calva.
- Tant d'histoire, dit le duc d'Auge au duc d'Auge, tant d'histoire pour quelques calembours, pour quelques anachronismes. Je trouve cela misérable. On n'en sortira donc jamais?
Le vingt-cinq septembre douze cent soixante-quatre, au petit jour, le duc d'Auge se pointa sur le sommet du donjon de son château pour y considérer, un tantinet soit peu, la situation historique. Elle était plutôt floue. Des restes du passé traînaient encore çà et là, en vrac. Sur les bords du ru voisin, campaient deux Huns; non loin d'eux un Gaulois, Éduen peut-être, trempait audacieusement ses pieds dans l'eau courante et fraîche. Sur l'horizon se dessinaient les silhouettes molles de Romains fatigués, de Sarrasins de Corinthe, de Francs anciens, d'Alains seuls. Quelques Normands buvaient du calva.
Le duc d'Auge soupira mais n'en continua pas moins d'examiner attentivement ces phénomènes usés.
Les Huns préparaient des stèques tartares, le Gaulois fumait une gitane, les Romains dessinaient des grecques, les Sarrasins fauchaient de l'avoine, les Francs cherchaient des sols et les Alains regardaient cinq Ossètes. Les Normands buvaient du calva.
- Tant d'histoire, dit le duc d'Auge au duc d'Auge, tant d'histoire pour quelques calembours, pour quelques anachronismes. Je trouve cela misérable. On n'en sortira donc jamais?
12.10.08
11.10.08
Mamma mia!
OK, FORSE NON sarà un capolavoro della cinematografia moderna, però quando ieri sera finalmente mi sono messo lì a vedermi Mamma mia!, la versione cinematografica con Meryl Streep e Pierce Brosnan (che è fichissimo ma per cantare direi che non è proprio la sua cosa), è stata un'ora e quaranta di goduria. Mamma mia quant'è divertente e carino. Quando ricapito a Las Vegas vado a vedermi anche lo spettacolo live, che ho sempre mancato...
10.10.08
Gli effetti della crisi
DICE CHE SUBITO dopo i grandi terremoti si fa di più l'amore, e che la cosa sarebbe comprovata dall'incremento delle nascite nove mesi dopo. Istinto per la sopravvivenza della specie e cose di questo genere. Varrà anche per i terremoti in Borsa? Stasera mi metto in ghingheri e vado a passeggiare in centro?
9.10.08
Cose che si scoprono così, per caso
OK, FORSE SONO io che non avevo letto la cosa sui giornali. Però, quando mi è cascato l'occhio su questa agenzia:
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Galp Energia SGPS SA, Portugal's biggest oil and gas company, said acquisitions including Eni SpA's Agip service-station network in Spain and Portugal will compensate for falling demand due to higher fuel prices.
mi sono reso conto che l'Agip, di proprietà dell'Eni, ha venduto la sua catena di pompe di benzina in Spagna e Portogallo... Voi lo sapevate?
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Galp Energia SGPS SA, Portugal's biggest oil and gas company, said acquisitions including Eni SpA's Agip service-station network in Spain and Portugal will compensate for falling demand due to higher fuel prices.
mi sono reso conto che l'Agip, di proprietà dell'Eni, ha venduto la sua catena di pompe di benzina in Spagna e Portogallo... Voi lo sapevate?