We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
I think so. I got an article which crossed my desk this morning:
King Digital Entertainment (makers of the Candy Crush Saga mobile game) is planning to launch an IPO valuing $7.56 billion, which is worth more than 15 percent of S&P 500 companies. Each of King's 22.2 million shares would be priced between $21 and $24, and is expected to debut the trading on March 26. Fox Business reports King would command a market value worth more than other major tech companies like AOL, Lions Gate Entertainment and even 2.8 times more than struggling J.C. Penny. Last month, King revealed that its fourth quarter revenue hit $602 million, and $159 million in profits.
It's cheap at the price - roughly a one to one price to (annualized) earnings ratio. However, this is a gaming company, and gaming companies are notorious for their price fluctuations. Very few companies which make standard XBox or Playstation games have remained at reasonable price levels, the competition is fierce and consumer tastes are fickle. Less standard gaming companies, such as Zynga (based almost entirely on Facebook registrations) have suffered mightily after going public.
King Digital has been very profitable, but I've had experience with firms like this. Typically, when they are privately held, they are fast, nimble, and aggressive. When they cash out, they become bloated, lazy and unresponsive. Can they break the mold? Since it's my view the market is artificially overpriced, my guess is this is a stock that will jump quickly and far early in its trading life, and then slip back down as reality hits home.
I can't blame the stakeholders for wanting to cash out, and perhaps this is the best time for them to take what they can get.
On the other hand, maybe investing in really useful stuff like this might be a better option.
It is true that students can get a great education from almost any school in the country. The bad news is that the quality of their education is, in many cases, up to them, and many schools will provide little guidance. Students who want a solid foundational education don’t have to go to one of the 22 colleges that earn an “A” rating. They can build their own education—and I hope our study serves as a guide for the type of education that employers want, our country needs, and will serve students long after graduation. But at many colleges and universities, the burden will be on them to make these informed choices.
I have written many times here about food fetishists. I am not referring to people with diagnosed eating disorders, just to people with neurotic concerns about "healthy food" and the silly wealthy people who go to Whole Foods.
"Healthy food" cannot be defined, because humans evolved as opportunistic omnivores. We can and will thrive on anything and everything we can stuff into our gaping pie holes. Americans and Europeans are the most over-nourished people on earth, as is most of the Western-influenced prosperous world.
"Food Studies"? Yes, with a minor in beer and pizza after classes. Unless you need to lose fat, have a pepperoni pizza and a beer, then some ice cream, find some other more productive interests to think about, and you'll do just fine in life. I regret informing you, as a physician, that "You are not what you eat." It's just too bad that life is not that easy.
In the Western world, too much nutrition is the biggest concern. It's now termed a "First World Problem" - How little of what will I eat for supper?
The point Obama makes here is valid, but begs a larger question, because it impacts his argument in support of a higher minimum wage.
The caller on this program made $36,000 per year, more than double minimum wage (and likely due to multiple household earners). However, if minimum wage is so low, can people on minimum wage who have cable and a cell phone (and many do) make the same choices? Minimum wage is providing enough for certain 'luxuries' which, in the grand scheme of things, are really just trade-offs for what we consider important in our lives. Obama's response indicates even the most leftish of liberals recognize this.
The discussion on minimum wage is much larger, of course. Most people earning it are not Head of Household, and most live in larger family groups with several earners. Regarding the president's response, however, we exposed to insight on the man's psyche. He realizes that managing your life is a series of choices, some better and some worse. But he's unwilling to allow people to make most of those choices on their own. It must be on his terms. His healthcare, his minimum wage, his regulations must all be in place before you or anyone else is allowed to make the necessary choices needed to run your life.
Me? I'd rather have health care than a cell and cable when my finances are strained. But you may not. Right now, Obama's argument to raise minimum wage is that you shouldn't have to make this choice. But we all make choices, Mr. President. It's how an economy works.
Forever Young? 20 of the Hottest Women Over 60 Years Old. 65 is the old 45. All it takes is some care, some flair, some estrogen, some exertion, and a little cash for teeth, hair, and skin.
Re the below by Peter Arno, Are you? And is he the young man you married?
As Moose populations gradually rebound in New England, and as White-Tailed Deer become pests in some areas because of lack of hunters and of predators, I am all in favor of bringing Wolves back to our neighborhood. Wolves kill coyotes, so there's that benefit too.
For me, a climate change agnostic, the mocking of climate change is no better than the strident protests that the sky is falling. Charles Krauthammer, hardly a liberal voice, says, "I'm not a global warming believer. I'm not a global warming denier. I've long believed that it cannot be good for humanity to be spewing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere." The last statement is critical because it implies that driving your kids to school in a Hummer is potentially hurting all of us.
The earth is an ecosystem, not an organism. Volcanic eruptions and asteroid collisions have serious consequences on the planet, on species (extinctions, for example), on climate and who knows what else. If the carbon density is a factor leading towards an environmental disaster, and it is a big if, what suffer you to reduce your carbon footprint? Or would you rather be the thirty-five year old who doesn't buy health insurance because "statistically I am at low risk for serious illness." You do the math.
Also, and this is dicey, no one factors the amount of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere every minute by 7 billion plus people not to mention the bovine methane from the cows contributing to your McDonald's diet. I'm just sayin' . . .
Gwynnie is glad that it wasn't her buck that slid on dry grass about 90 yards to the bottom of this ravine. The guy who shot it is glad it stopped within range of a winch cable plus 100 ft of line.
My new favorite venison recipe, Venison with Blackberry Sauce, is below the fold
As the author notes, at least the artist isn't calling for state intervention. However, this mindset is why I think so many artists have messed up political views. Childish, immature, idealistic views - these all lend themselves to producing art, at times. He chose a profession, then got angry when people liked what he made and were willing to pay him for it. But he couldn't produce for them. So he broke his contract.
How the Other California Lives - Some of the most productive farm land in the world is going fallow thanks to a man-made water shortage. A long-time grower explains.
The most recent dinner we had in Sicily was swordfish stuffed with herbs and pignoli nuts on a bed of couscous with a sweetened wine and raisin sauce. That was outside Agrigento on the southwest coast. To this day, western Sicily is "Arab" and eastern is "Greek." The local cuisines of Italy reflect the history.
The history of Sicilian cuisine is the history of beautiful, wonderful, and profoundly-corrupt Sicily - and also the history of the Western World. No problema - they only hassle eachother - and we must be multiculturally-tolerant. Put Sicily on your bucket list. They love Americans there and, like the Irish, they all have a cousin in NY or NJ. We are returning there soon.
For some dumb reason, I decided to codify the dominant carbs of Italy, which, like Sicily, still has large variations in regional cuisine, sometimes varying almost completely over 50 miles in terms of wines, cheeses, sausages, meats, carbs, etc. As readers know, in Italian tradition the Antipasto is tasty little treats, the Primi is generally a carb (a pasta, risotto, gnocchi, etc) or a soup, and the Secondi is meat or fish, with a veg on a side dish only if you ask for it.
What is suppertime in Italian culture? Late, like 8 or 9 pm, after the passagiata with lots of vino and friends and relatives and kids. As I have said before, the cuisine of all of Italy is designed to be accompanied by wine. Without sips of wine, it tastes less wonderful.
Bread? Everywhere. "North" and "South" roughly mean in relation to Rome. (Umbrian bread is terrible: they quit using salt after a salt tax argument with the Pope in 1540 and still don't use it. That's a long Italian grudge for ya.)
The North: Polenta, Rice and Risotto, Potato, Gnocchi, fresh-made egg noodles (eg Pappardelle) including ravioli and tortellini. Mainly butter for fats, but some olive oil too.
The South: Plain (no egg) dried pastas, beans. Pizza. Olive oil for fats.
Sicily: Couscous, rice, some plain pastas. Olive oil.
Now I expect some arguments and exceptions from readers, but I think this is generally accurate.
Image is a very fine Umbrian Primi that I had in Assisi - Gorgonzola and Porcini Risotto. Nothing better. Arborio Rice only. Italian women have strong arms from stirring Risotto and Polenta. You can't stop stirring them until done.
In my career as a doctor in prison, I met a few swindlers in my time and on the whole I liked them. They had charm and intelligence, which perhaps is unsurprising. It isn’t easy to imagine a charmless swindler, after all; it is almost a sine qua non of the trade. Whether their charm preceded their swindling or they developed it in order to practice their swindling is hard to say, though the former is more likely. Be that as it may, their charm was their stock-in-trade and human gullibility the market in which they sold their wares.
Here's an online magazine some readers will enjoy: 
Is the LRB 
I have written many times here about food fetishists. I am not referring to people with diagnosed eating disorders, just to people with neurotic concerns about "healthy food" and the silly wealthy people who go to Whole Foods.
Top predators are essential to maintaining some sort of wobbly balances in ecosystems, but is their role overrated?
The most recent dinner we had in Sicily was swordfish stuffed with herbs and pignoli nuts on a bed of couscous with a sweetened wine and raisin sauce. That was outside Agrigento on the southwest coast. To this day, western Sicily is "Arab" and eastern is "Greek." The local cuisines of Italy reflect the history.