Comments for The Blogg http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress A delicious concoction of commentary, essays, reviews, memoires, etc. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Disaster Insurance by Michaluk http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=579&cpage=1#comment-14022 Michaluk Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:38 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=579#comment-14022 This is similar to what just happened in the financial sector. A bunch of variable rate mortgages were issued that had a high chance of defaulting if the housing bubble burst. These mortgages were then sold as securities. A huge amount of money was moving through the companies issuing these mortgages, which resulted in a nice fake profit (in the sense that they got money but in exchange took on huge liabilities), which in turn resulted in management getting absurd bonuses. When the bubble burst and those liabilities had to be paid off, the firms simply went under (although it was even worse than this, since the taxpayers bailed many of them out and paid for their mistakes). This hardly effected the execs, even the ones who lost their jobs, because they had already pocketed millions of dollars. The secret to all of this, of course, is the corporation. Incorporating insulates the employees' assets from the corporation's liabilities. An earthquake insurance company works the same way the financial sector worked the past couple years: trade liability for cash and give cash to your high level employees. When it comes time to pay the piper, the company goes under, the people who paid you and the low level employees get screwed and you and your friends walk into the sunset. This is similar to what just happened in the financial sector. A bunch of variable rate mortgages were issued that had a high chance of defaulting if the housing bubble burst. These mortgages were then sold as securities. A huge amount of money was moving through the companies issuing these mortgages, which resulted in a nice fake profit (in the sense that they got money but in exchange took on huge liabilities), which in turn resulted in management getting absurd bonuses. When the bubble burst and those liabilities had to be paid off, the firms simply went under (although it was even worse than this, since the taxpayers bailed many of them out and paid for their mistakes). This hardly effected the execs, even the ones who lost their jobs, because they had already pocketed millions of dollars.

The secret to all of this, of course, is the corporation. Incorporating insulates the employees’ assets from the corporation’s liabilities. An earthquake insurance company works the same way the financial sector worked the past couple years: trade liability for cash and give cash to your high level employees. When it comes time to pay the piper, the company goes under, the people who paid you and the low level employees get screwed and you and your friends walk into the sunset.

]]> Comment on iPod Adventures by chadhogg http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559&cpage=1#comment-13938 chadhogg Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:36:48 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559#comment-13938 When I first owned a car in '97 or so I rocked one of those adapters from my Sony Discman, but alas my current vehicle has no cassette input. When I first owned a car in ‘97 or so I rocked one of those adapters from my Sony Discman, but alas my current vehicle has no cassette input.

]]> Comment on iPod Adventures by stEvil http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559&cpage=1#comment-13932 stEvil Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:07:10 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559#comment-13932 I too have struggled with wireless transmitters for iPods. To make my long road trips to see family over the holidays easier, I went to Radioshack and got one of those "cassette tape to 3.5mm jack" things for $20 (much cheaper online i'm sure). Now I use the fm transmitter solely as a power source, and the cassette tape is a happy way around the to-fm compression that happens in the fm transmitter. But you need to have a cassette input, which you might not have. I too have struggled with wireless transmitters for iPods. To make my long road trips to see family over the holidays easier, I went to Radioshack and got one of those “cassette tape to 3.5mm jack” things for $20 (much cheaper online i’m sure). Now I use the fm transmitter solely as a power source, and the cassette tape is a happy way around the to-fm compression that happens in the fm transmitter. But you need to have a cassette input, which you might not have.

]]> Comment on Moving On With The Eagles by Michaluk http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=567&cpage=1#comment-13899 Michaluk Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:43:33 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=567#comment-13899 Agreed on most accounts. KR - I feel the kick returner roll needs a significant upgrade. If you can find that needle-in-a-haystack kick returner who can see the lanes and break one open (Cribbs, Hester 2 years ago) it's amazing, but if you can't (and obviously most teams can't), I'd rather have a RB with some bulk who knows how to hold onto the ball (Buckhalter, Rock Cartright of the Skins). He won't get tds, but he'll consistently get you those few extra yards. Having a WR at returner is especially bad, because you're killing one of your offensive guys right before your offensive comes out onto the field. Weaver's too important to the offense to do it, but I'd love if Buckley showed some promise at the position. Having Maclin do it is simply unacceptable. WR - Its not a pressing need, but I think the offense would benefit a great deal by having a big receiver to pick up those 3rd and shorts. Desean gets walloped and drops the ball too much in tight coverage, and you'd like to keep Celek in to block occasionally. CB - Sheldon (or rather, lack of depth behind him), killed the Eagles this year. He was hurt, but they had no one else to put in. I would have liked to see Hanson get a shot at right corner ... it seemed like Sheldon's man was always open, starting from right at the snap, on every play. The Cowboys murdered the Eagles on 3rd down, and a lot of those pickups were slants to Sheldon's side. Agreed on most accounts.

KR – I feel the kick returner roll needs a significant upgrade. If you can find that needle-in-a-haystack kick returner who can see the lanes and break one open (Cribbs, Hester 2 years ago) it’s amazing, but if you can’t (and obviously most teams can’t), I’d rather have a RB with some bulk who knows how to hold onto the ball (Buckhalter, Rock Cartright of the Skins). He won’t get tds, but he’ll consistently get you those few extra yards. Having a WR at returner is especially bad, because you’re killing one of your offensive guys right before your offensive comes out onto the field. Weaver’s too important to the offense to do it, but I’d love if Buckley showed some promise at the position. Having Maclin do it is simply unacceptable.

WR – Its not a pressing need, but I think the offense would benefit a great deal by having a big receiver to pick up those 3rd and shorts. Desean gets walloped and drops the ball too much in tight coverage, and you’d like to keep Celek in to block occasionally.

CB – Sheldon (or rather, lack of depth behind him), killed the Eagles this year. He was hurt, but they had no one else to put in. I would have liked to see Hanson get a shot at right corner … it seemed like Sheldon’s man was always open, starting from right at the snap, on every play. The Cowboys murdered the Eagles on 3rd down, and a lot of those pickups were slants to Sheldon’s side.

]]> Comment on iPod Adventures by Mykroft http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559&cpage=1#comment-13856 Mykroft Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:44:32 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=559#comment-13856 Well I can't really empathize much with you on any count here. I have an iPod and MacBook so I have no problems there. I also have a cheap wireless transmitter that i got off of woot for like 10 bucks that has worked for me almost flawlessly for the last year or 2. I have to say though i intentionally avoided the belkin product because I'd read several bad reviews. To do it "right" what you really need to do is get a stereo with and external 3.5mm and an iPod audio cable my wife bought the cable and her car stereo just came that way and it is a vast improvement over my setup. Well I can’t really empathize much with you on any count here. I have an iPod and MacBook so I have no problems there. I also have a cheap wireless transmitter that i got off of woot for like 10 bucks that has worked for me almost flawlessly for the last year or 2. I have to say though i intentionally avoided the belkin product because I’d read several bad reviews. To do it “right” what you really need to do is get a stereo with and external 3.5mm and an iPod audio cable my wife bought the cable and her car stereo just came that way and it is a vast improvement over my setup.

]]> Comment on Car Shopping Conclusion by chadhogg http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=505&cpage=1#comment-13815 chadhogg Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:23:19 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=505#comment-13815 Over my first three fill-ups I have been averaging 24.1 miles per gallon in mixed city and highway driving. Not as good as I had hoped or as good as what I got out of the Escort, but certainly acceptable. Over my first three fill-ups I have been averaging 24.1 miles per gallon in mixed city and highway driving. Not as good as I had hoped or as good as what I got out of the Escort, but certainly acceptable.

]]> Comment on Counting Calories by chadhogg http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-13728 chadhogg Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:38:33 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507#comment-13728 I probably do eat less than I did in college, but I do not feel like it. When I am hungry, I eat until I am full. Eating significantly more would be painful, which is what makes me wonder about the 6000 calorie-per-day athletes. Regardless of how much energy you burn in a day, your stomach can only process so much volume. While it is certainly possible to stretch the stomach much larger than normal, I cannot imagine this is the case for athletes. I probably do eat less than I did in college, but I do not feel like it. When I am hungry, I eat until I am full. Eating significantly more would be painful, which is what makes me wonder about the 6000 calorie-per-day athletes. Regardless of how much energy you burn in a day, your stomach can only process so much volume. While it is certainly possible to stretch the stomach much larger than normal, I cannot imagine this is the case for athletes.

]]> Comment on Counting Calories by Michaluk http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-13722 Michaluk Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:41:18 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507#comment-13722 When I said 'I should start doing this", I meant recording what I eat, not eating 6000 calories per day. I got a little chuckle out of that when I reread it. When I said ‘I should start doing this”, I meant recording what I eat, not eating 6000 calories per day. I got a little chuckle out of that when I reread it.

]]> Comment on Counting Calories by Michaluk http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507&cpage=1#comment-13721 Michaluk Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:40:11 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=507#comment-13721 Wow, you really do not eat very much; you've really cut down since college. I suppose not having the buffet and late night Baldur's Gate donuts helps that. I believe the 2000 calorie mark is for an average level of activity, and I would guess you're below that, unless this was taken while you were exercising. I remember in high school health class we did a calorie calculation, and during the part of the year when the tennis team was active, my ideal caloric intake (~200 pounds, ~2 hours moderate exercise per day) was something absurd, like 3000 calories or more. I was probably getting that; I remember my brother (also on the team) and I eating enormous bowls of ice cream in the evenings, and following them up with a bag of chips (this was after eating dinner of course, not in place of). It entirely comes down to how active you are. If you do nothing, you could probably get by on a few hundred calories per day. Top athletes can take in 6000 or more per day while training. I should start doing this for comparison purposes. Wow, you really do not eat very much; you’ve really cut down since college. I suppose not having the buffet and late night Baldur’s Gate donuts helps that. I believe the 2000 calorie mark is for an average level of activity, and I would guess you’re below that, unless this was taken while you were exercising. I remember in high school health class we did a calorie calculation, and during the part of the year when the tennis team was active, my ideal caloric intake (~200 pounds, ~2 hours moderate exercise per day) was something absurd, like 3000 calories or more. I was probably getting that; I remember my brother (also on the team) and I eating enormous bowls of ice cream in the evenings, and following them up with a bag of chips (this was after eating dinner of course, not in place of).

It entirely comes down to how active you are. If you do nothing, you could probably get by on a few hundred calories per day. Top athletes can take in 6000 or more per day while training. I should start doing this for comparison purposes.

]]> Comment on Climategate Musings by stEvil http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=546&cpage=1#comment-13625 stEvil Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:04:16 +0000 http://chadhogg.name/~chad/wordpress/?p=546#comment-13625 Love it. And obviously agree wholeheartedly -- as usual your analysis and positions are carefully considered and well supported. Because you know me, I'm sure you could anticipate point 4 tickles my conspiracy funny-bone (more on that in a bit). It also hits home about valuing my own opinions on topics in spite of not being an expert. To me, it's not that I'm more qualified than these experts to have an opinion, it's that when I've used some (weak) diligence to try and come by their opinions (via print and other media) it is not unusual that the experts disagree with one another (naturally). And when this is the case it's completely fair to play sides by misusing pieces of "evidence" from conflicting experts to get meaningful debate/conversations amongst friends (and strangers when bored). Alright, so I promised conspiracy theory. The "usher in a worldwide fascist regime" through global-climate frenzy is a conspiracy i've heard before. As is the vaccine-autism example. But the global-warming one I'm happy to throw in the bag with any science(for)politics, or "politically charged scientific issue". As soon as politics are involved, it means sociopaths have a new lever to use on the governed-masses with reckless abandon. The autism one, on the other hand, is one i'm unwilling to let go of. Take this non-reputable source for example!: http://www.newsmax.com/health/vaccines_cause_autism/2008/03/03/77315.html I have no idea about the credibility of the information, but if it is even marginally true it's terribly sad. No, there isn't evidence/etc in the article about pharmaceutical companies trying to bribe/cover-up. There is however the use of the word "malfeasance", which is nice: "Furthermore, in 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Government Reform Committee, after a 3.5-year investigation, concluded that Thimerosal caused the autism epidemic and that the FDA and health authorities were guilty of “institutional malfeasance” in covering it up." So bribes? No mention. But cover-up? You betcha. Conspiracy! Conspiracy! :) Love it. And obviously agree wholeheartedly — as usual your analysis and positions are carefully considered and well supported.

Because you know me, I’m sure you could anticipate point 4 tickles my conspiracy funny-bone (more on that in a bit). It also hits home about valuing my own opinions on topics in spite of not being an expert. To me, it’s not that I’m more qualified than these experts to have an opinion, it’s that when I’ve used some (weak) diligence to try and come by their opinions (via print and other media) it is not unusual that the experts disagree with one another (naturally). And when this is the case it’s completely fair to play sides by misusing pieces of “evidence” from conflicting experts to get meaningful debate/conversations amongst friends (and strangers when bored).

Alright, so I promised conspiracy theory. The “usher in a worldwide fascist regime” through global-climate frenzy is a conspiracy i’ve heard before. As is the vaccine-autism example. But the global-warming one I’m happy to throw in the bag with any science(for)politics, or “politically charged scientific issue”. As soon as politics are involved, it means sociopaths have a new lever to use on the governed-masses with reckless abandon. The autism one, on the other hand, is one i’m unwilling to let go of. Take this non-reputable source for example!:

http://www.newsmax.com/health/vaccines_cause_autism/2008/03/03/77315.html

I have no idea about the credibility of the information, but if it is even marginally true it’s terribly sad. No, there isn’t evidence/etc in the article about pharmaceutical companies trying to bribe/cover-up. There is however the use of the word “malfeasance”, which is nice:

“Furthermore, in 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Government Reform Committee, after a 3.5-year investigation, concluded that Thimerosal caused the autism epidemic and that the FDA and health authorities were guilty of “institutional malfeasance” in covering it up.”

So bribes? No mention. But cover-up? You betcha. Conspiracy! Conspiracy!

:)

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