- The Grass-Mud Horse lexicon: Chinese bloggers' tool to subvert government censorship
The Grass-Mud Horse lexicon is a compilation of slang that Chinese bloggers are using to subvert government censorship. As reported here, "Grass-mud horse sounds nearly the same in Chinese as 'f*** your mother' (cào nǐ m…
Topic: Geek, Censorship | Read more
- Why global warming may be making us fat: increased CO2 levels affect hormones that stimulate activity
Danish researchers say carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere is making us all fatter, as COs may affect performance of a harmone orexins, which stimulate wakefulness and activity in our bodies. Researchers give the U.S. a…
Topic: Study, Health, Global warming | Read more
- How to be creative, idea #51: Be drunk and sleepy
A study claims that sleepy people (researchers studied a group of students), like a brain-damaged patient, benefit from the inability to focus. The study says that since the minds are drowsy and disorganized, they often …
Topic: Study, Howto, Creativity, Remarkable | Read more
- Do Genes decide who gets to be a free-thinker or a conformist?: Nah
It is hard to believe American scientists claim in a study that genes are why the British are free-thinking and the Chinese love conformiy. Yes, tell that to Confucius and a country that invented many things. As a commen…
Topic: Study, Geek | Read more
- Time to rethink unpaid internships: Companies benefit without paying, you do only menial jobs
We will see more interns suing companies they worked for - the pay is nothing or next to nothing. And, the work is far from important career-enhancing work, it is mostly menial work that no one else wants to do. USA Toda…
Topic: Business, Internship | Read more
- Ultimately, Microsoft will be the ultimate Microsoft killer
Ultimately, Microsoft's inability to do anything new (xbox and Kinect don't count) in the internet age, will be its downfall. Whatever its cash status, how long can Microsoft continue to copy other companies and try to p…
Topic: Business, Microsoft, Windows | Read more
- The age of recycled diamonds: There are $1 trillion worth of "used diamonds" in America alone
The story of "recycled diamonds" in America and how it might the hurt the global industry (as it is, high-quality rough diamonds have become more difficult to find, and more expensive to mine)is something that perhaps Ya…
Topic: Business, Diamonds | Read more
- The 'sell anything' age: A list of things you can buy on this planet
In the 'sell anything' age, you can buy and sell anything. People will get rich by selling all kinds of things. Morality doesn't matter. A few samplings from how our society is getting 'debased' by the unrelenting lure o…
Topic: Business, Trends, Society | Read more
- What government warnings are most useful?: Start with 'politics isn't about policy'
From an interesting discussion at Marginal Revolution over government regulator warnings that are most useful. From the list:
“Driving is dangerous”
“Fight nuclear proliferation.”
“Don’t let your kid near a bucket…
Topic: Politics | Read more
- Four ways to secure your smartphone
A study on smartphone security found that of all people who found smartphones, 72% tried to access photos, 57% tried to open a file called "Saved Passwords," and 43%tried to open an app called "Online Banking."
Since m…
Topic: Geek, Apple, Android, Smartphone, Tips | Read more
- Annals of just desserts: Court strips Copyright troll Righthaven of copyrights, to be sold to pay off its victims
Righthaven became infamous as a copyright troll that went after hapless bloggers for quoting newspaper articles and suing them for damages in court. As fate would have it, the defendant took on Righthaven and look how th…
Topic: Internet and Websites, Business, Legal | Read more
- Annals of social media policies gone bad: Honda pays bloggers to write about Civic and other cars
Evgeny Morozov was right all along. The internet is increasingly used more and more by big business and governments to further their interests. Big businesses paying people to write positive things about their products i…
Topic: Business, Social media marketing, Scandal | Read more
- How to change the world, idea #1: Seize properties of a major media house, starting with Murdock holdings
This post is about an idea for a French Revolution for the media industry in the 21st century. Left to their own devices, and considering how deeply entrencehd their reach is inside the system, media houses like Rupert M…
Topic: Business, Media, How to change the world | Read more
- What America Sells To The World: Ironically, educational and financial services are among top exports
In 2011, America sold $2.1 trillion worth of goods and services to the world. Among the top sellers in the services segment were education and financial services. Which is ironic, considering the increasing scrutiny bein…
Topic: Business, Trends | Read more
- India, not a superpower: Only a soft powerhouse (long live Bollywood and curry)
A study by the reputed London School of Economics says India is not a superpower by a big measure. India can't even lord like a superpower over its poor neighbors (the recent crisis in Maldives, for example). India has f…
Topic: India, Study | Read more
- Why Indian organizations ban websites: Objectionable content is just an excuse to hide other motives
The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) reportedly blocked Facebook, on its campus, as it believed the site carried objectionable posts that Muslims would not like. However, the Indian Express reports that the actual reason …
Topic: Colleges and Universities, India, Facebook, Censorship | Read more
- Annals of rich Indian lawmakers: 86% of MLAs in Punjab are crorepatis
Another evidence in support of the argument that the democratic process is not for the poor or even the middle class. The Association for Democratic Reforms reports that 101 of the Punjab’s 117 newly-elected legislators …
Topic: India, Politics, Study | Read more
- Finally a sensible rail budget: If you can pay Rs. 250 for a bad bollywood movie, you can pay Rs. 150 extra for rail travel
Middle class India doesn't need to despair over the hikes in rail fares in 2012. It happened after 8 years, under a sensible-enough Rail Minister, who seems to be a breadth of fresh air after all those populist rail mini…
Topic: India, Rail travel, Budget | Read more
- The Ultimate Handbook to E-learning: All the essential resources in one place
E-learning, basically, using electronic tools to teach is a growing business. You can divide it into two parts - part 1 deals with instructional design, which means structuring your teaching - part 2 deals with the tools…
Topic: Handbook, Elearning, Instructional design, Simpleguide | Read more
- A simple guide to the KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) industry
Here are five questions people ask most about the KPO (knowledge Process Outsourcing) industry:
1. What is KPO?
KPO is the second wave of outsourcing. First, you had the wave of BPO (Business process Outsourcing) compa…
Topic: Business, Handbook, Kpo, Simpleguide, Outsourcing, Career | Read more
