Dow Jones brickyard

Dow Jones brickyard
Originally uploaded by alexsk

I think we can sum up the cause of our current economic crisis in one word — GREED. Over the years, mortgage lenders were happy to lend money to people who couldn’t afford their mortgages. But they did it anyway because there was nothing to lose. These lenders were able to charge higher interest rates and make more money on sub-prime loans. If the borrowers default, they simply seized the house and put it back on the market. On top of that, they were able to pass the risk off to mortgage insurer or package these mortgages as mortgage-backed securities. Easy money!
What Went Wrong With Our Financial System?

The whole thing was one big scheme. Everything was great when houses were selling like hot cakes and their values go up every month. Lenders made it easier to borrow money, and the higher demand drove up house values. Higher house values means that lenders could lend out even bigger mortgages, and it also gave lenders some protection against foreclosures. All of this translates into more money for the lenders, insurers, and investors.

Unfortunately, many borrowers got slammed when their adjustable mortgage finally adjusted. When too many of them couldn’t afford to make their payments, it causes these lenders to suffer from liquidity issue and to sit on more foreclosures than they could sell. Mortgage-backed securities became more risky and worth less causing investment firms like Lehman Brothers to suffer. Moreover, insurers like AIG who insured these bad mortgages also got in trouble.

The scheme worked well, but it reverses course and is now coming back to hurt everyone with a vengeance.

The Bailout And Who Should Pay

I don’t like the idea of government bailout, because the government is using your money to help out greedy bankers. Unfortunately, it may be the only option we have right now, but I hope these greedy lenders won’t get away scot-free. Somebody made a lot of money leading up to this crisis and they should pay for it — at least the government should make them.

In my opinion, the government should force conversion of bad mortgages into 30 years fixed rate mortgages. The interest rate on these converted mortgages could be higher than normal. This way it’s more affordable to more borrowers resulting in a lower default rate. Yes the lenders will make less money, but in my opinion, they already made too much. By the way, the borrowers aren’t completely innocent either, that’s why they should pay a little more as well.

Since it was fine from them to play with our economy and our lives, I think this is the least that they could do to take part in the recovery effort. Why should your tax dollars go toward helping these greedy bankers who already made billions out of the scheme? I am sure no one will come to my rescue if I my greed got me in trouble.

To the point

To the point
Originally uploaded by alexsk

For centuries it has been the faithful recorder of our thoughts and artistic abilities. With it men have created masterpieces of literature, children have transferred their imaginations to paper and artists have drawn superb pictures. Yet, throughout all of this, the humble work-horse behind it all has gone unrecognised. Who gives a thought to the pencil? Well, it’s about time this injustice was corrected. So, lets take a closer look at our trusty servant – the pencil.

The word pencil is derived from the Latin pencillus, meaning ‘painters’ brush.’ The earliest pencils were, in fact, fine brushes that hardly resemble our modern version. When graphite was discovered in Bavaria, however, the fine hairs of the brush were replaced with this new find and encased in wood. Graphite was originally known as plumbago – acting like lead –and up to this day people still believe that pencils contain lead, which is not the case.

The type of graphite used today wasn’t discovered until 1564. This solid, high purity graphite gave a far better result than that previously used. This graphite was initially held in the hand without any covering, The mess it made of the writer’s hand, however, became a major hassle and soon efforts were made to overcome this problem. The graphite was wrapped in a waxy material by some, enclosed in a metal tube by others and wrapped with cord or string-like material by still others. A wood encased graphite rod pencil wasn’t manufactured until 1660. This was further refined in the late 1700s when a method of grinding graphite with clay to produce a much finer, more consistent and smoother pencil was found. Thus, the modern pencil was developed into a form which has remained substantially unchanged for 300 years.

How is a pencil made? It all starts with the grinding of graphite and clay into a stiff, doughy consistency. This is then extruded through a small hole in a tungsten carbide die. The finished graphite is then cut into about 7 inch lengths. These individual ‘leads’ are then dried and fired in a kiln and then impregnated with a lubricant to make them smoother for writing. The gradient of the pencil is dependant on the amount of clay initially added to the mixture.

The wood used to encase the graphite must be soft enough for sharpening, yet stable enough that it will not bend. Red cedar is the most popular timber chosen for this purpose. The timber is first milled into slats about seven inches long, by two inches thick. Next, six half round grooves are machined along one side to accept the graphite leads. Then two such grooves are glued together with the lead in between them. After the glue has cured, the pencil is cut to shape by a special machine. Painting follows, and, finally, the name, identity and grade of the pencil are printed on the side. In all, 125 different operations have gone into the making of each pencil.

So, next time you utilise the humble pencil, take a moment to appreciate where it’s come from and where you’d be if you didn’t have it as your faithful transmitting device.

Glossy or just a color

heart's affair
Originally uploaded by alexsk

It is recognized that the Egyptians of long ago wore lipstick. Since Cleopatra in 60 BC, women have applied the cosmetic to their lips. From existing depictions of the Ancient Greece we can see that they wore wigs, kohl, and henna made of plant dye from fucus algin and bromine (which was poisonous) on their lips. Queen Elizabeth, a trend setter and ruler, wore red on her lips. Not everyone loved the lipstick. In 1770, the British Parliament passed a law that said a woman wearing lipstick could be tried for witch craft. Queen Victoria of Britain said it was considered “impolite” to wear any make-up. In the 1800’s wearing red on your lips meant you were “fast” however, in the Roaring 20’s, the suffragists wore red as a symbol of their new found power. Hollywood starlets such as Gloria Swanson and Lana Turner helped increase the popularity of the lipstick. Elizabeth Arden opened a beauty parlor in the 1930’s that helped the average woman access make-up. And in1949, Hazel Bishop perfected a long lasting lipstick. Lipstick is colored by pigments from red to brown. Two of many dyes used are bromo acid and D & C red No. 21. A chemical called titanium oxide is added to give brightness. Cetyl alcohol is the ingredient which prevents lipstick from melting. Lipstick and lip gloss can come packaged in the tube or in a cylinder with an application swab. A lipstick that is frosted contains bismuth oxychloride for luster. A matte lipstick will last longer than a glossy one. A sheer lipstick contains more oil and less pigment color. The oils used can be petrolatum, castor oil, lanolin, cocoa butter, olive oil, or mineral oil. If the product contains a sealant, the lipstick will be long-lasting. A glimmer or sparkle is given to a lipstick by adding bits of mica or silica particles. Lipsticks production today no longer includes animal testing. People tend to think that rosy cheeks and lips are sensuous and a sign of good health.

To produce the cosmetic the mixture is first ground up. Then the wax and oils are added. The hot solution is poured into cold molds and then chilled. The lipsticks are then inserted into ornate twist tubes.

Did you know there is a plant called the lipstick plant? Its scientific name is Aeschynanthus pulcher and it is native to Malaysia. The vine cascades with red tubular flowers. Lipsticks come in browns, reds, purples, oranges, pinks, and even odd colors such as blues and purples.

"Hastalapasta"

"Hastalapasta"
Originally uploaded by alexsk

Pasta
has become synonymous with Italian cuisine the world over. Eaten on all five continents, it has become Italy's culinary flag embraced globally. "Pasta" is Italian for paste, referring to the combination of flour and water. It is a term that also encompasses the many forms and shapes it comes in. Pasta mainly comes in two types, fresh and dried. Generally, the ones most people are familiar with are the ones bought in packets. Durum wheat, a hard wheat, is milled into semolina and mixed with water to form a dough which is kneaded and cut into different shapes and dried and packaged. Today, there are more than 600 different shapes produced worldwide.

The standard way of cooking pasta is to boil then strain from the water. It is usually eaten with different types of sauces or tossed with oil, herbs and spices
. The exception being layered flat sheets like lasagna, which is baked and tubes and pillows which are stuffed. Spaghetti is the most common type of pasta and the word is the diminutive of spago, meaning string in Italian. Italians are very descriptive of their many different types of pasta and when translated into English sound most curious. Examples include, angels' hair, ribbons, worms, little ears, butterflies, etc. Despite the odd names, Italians tend to treat pasta with the utmost seriousness.

In Italy, pasta is served as a first course, but of course it is enjoyed any old time everywhere else. Not only was there a World Pasta Conference organized in 1995 in Italy, but to commemorate this, Italians promote their culinary pride by celebrating Word Pasta Day every year in October since 1998. Not only does Italy have an Italian Pasta Association, but there is also a Pasta Museum in Rome. There, visitors can view antique pasta-making machines, study dried specimens of centuries-old pasta, gather nutritional value of pasta and learn about pasta processes.

It is a matter of much controversy with regards to the origin of this well-loved comfort food. The history of pasta is in fact as convoluted as a bowl of spaghetti. The romantic legend that Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy on his return from travels in China is, as can be expected, totally rejected by nationalistic Italians. They claim that Marco Polo returned in 1295 but in 1279, a Genoese soldier listed in the inventory of his estate a basket of dried pasta, thus debunking this particular myth. Most do concede though that the Chinese are known to have been eating a noodle-type food but point out that pasta and noodles are different. Noodles are a starchy product known to have been made from breadfruit and not wheat!
Another theory is that the origin of pasta dates back to an archeological find of Etruscan tombs. Carvings on some of the stucco reliefs in the tombs depicted a knife, board, flour sack and an iron pin. It is interpreted that these instruments were sued to make pasta and the iron pin in particular to shape tubed pasta. However, this is just conjecture as the instruments may have had other uses and there is no further evidence to support the claim that the Etruscans invented pasta.

However, the first certain record of pasta cooked by boiling is made in the Talmud, written in Aramaic in the 5th century AD and coems from Arabic references. Known as Itiyah, it refers to dried pasta which was portable and carried as a dry staple. More than likely, pasta was introduced during the Arab conquests of Sicily. Some historians believe that the Sicilian word maccaruni, which means made into a dough by force, is the origin of macaroni. In ancient times, kneading was done with the feet and often took all day.
Some pasta dishes still eaten today in Sicily include raisins and spices that were brought in by the Arabs, another indication that perhaps it was the Arabs that introduced pasta. Dried pasta became popular throughout the 14th and 15th centuries as it was easily stored for long periods and evidence shows that ships setting on their voyages of discovery to explore the New World had pasta in their stores. Various types of pasta are also mentioned in the records of many monasteries in the 15th century and by the 17th century, pasta had become part of the daily diet of many Italians. It was an affordable staple, readily available and very adaptable. In the 16th century, the Spanish brought back many culinary discoveries including the humble tomato. When pasta met tomato, the way pasta was eaten was changed forever. Before this coupling, pasta was eaten dry with the fingers. With the introduction of a liquid sauce, the traditional use of a fork to eat pasta was born.

Cheese is one of the earliest documented condiments for pasta. Even before the earliest recipes were written, cheese with pasta was all the rage in the Middle Ages and present in all the medieval collection of recipes that feature pasta. Grated cheese was often mixed with spices. This practice survives until this day.

The Inner city boy project 2009 calendar
Originally uploaded by alexsk

Where paperclips come from

Stationary Love
Originally uploaded by alexsk

Paper clips aren't usually something that cause a lot of controversy in offices, that is, unless they are being flung at people. They are one of the many unsung heroes that go unnoticed in day to day life but have you ever stopped to think about who invented them? The United States Patent Office states that Samuel Fay entered his paper clip design into their product catalog in 1867. Ten years later Erlman Wright introduced an ingenious deign for binding newspapers but it was far from being something that most consumers and office workers would find suitable for everyday use.

The paper clip that most people use today was based on "the gem"; a bent wire piece that loops around itself and can be used over and over until it stretches out of shape or warps. You have the British to thank for the Gem type design but this unique and highly functional design has never been patented so there is no true way to give any one person credit for it.

Why were paper clips even invented? Before the invention of the plastic loop tag system for fastening labels and price tags to clothing, this was done with pins. As you may imagine, this was a time consuming process that also involved more than a few people pricking their fingers. By using a paper clip, labels were fastened quicker, the clips didn't puncture the skin and there was less damage to the item being tagged.

Staples were patented in 1877 and gave paper clips a brief run for their money but just like the pin, it was too hard for consumers to remove safely and the idea was nixed shortly thereafter.

Today paper clips can be found in all shapes and sizes; they are made from plastic, basic steel, brass, recycled aluminum and my personal favorite, the plastic coated ones that seem to last forever. Variations of the clip are just as plentiful; the basic loop design, top end pick and quick slide and diamond mount are just a few of the shapes you can find clips in.

Oddly enough, the paper clip industry is a multi million dollar a year market. New designs include the alphabet, musical notes, dog bones, musical instruments and notes, geometric shapes, flowers, stars and hearts. These upscale clips look great but generally aren't as effective as the good old basic Gem style clip.

The bulldog and binder clips are cousins to the paper clip; these are generally used to bind large amounts of paper but they are also great to hang wires and keeps computer cables off the ground. Always put the cable through the binder or bulldog, they both exert a lot of pressure that could wreak havoc on them over a period of time.

So the next time you reach for a paper clip or let loose with a stream of obscenities when you drop a box of them, give thanks to the person that invented them. Think of how complicated things would be if they were never created and the mountains of papers that would be strewn across offices. If MacGyver can find 107 uses for the paper clip then there's hope for us all.

Fly me to the Moon

Moon @ 51%
Originally uploaded by alexsk

Looming some 384.400 km (239,000 miles) from the Earth, with a diameter of 3476 km (2,160 miles) and a mass of 7.35e22 kg. shines the Moon. The Moon is the brightest object in the night sky and only second in brightness to that of the Sun. Its mean density is only 3.34 times that of water. It has no real atmosphere and no magnetic field of its own and is the only natural satellite of our planet Earth. In fact, the Moon is next to the largest moon in our solar system; the Earth and Moon can almost be said to be a double planet. The Moon undergoes extremes in temperature: it is alternately scorched to +110 degrees celsius during the day and frozen to -180 degrees celesius at night. Many of us have seen its eclipses and occultations. The Moon shines by reflected sunlight as it passes through each of its familiar phases and the Moon (with a little help from the Sun) also controls the ocean's tides.

Five hundred million years ago, the Moon summoned life out of its first home, the sea, and led it onto the empty land. For as it drew the tides across the barren continents of primeval earth, their daily rhythm exposed to sun and air, most creatures of the shallows perished—but some adapted to the new and hostile environment. The conquest of the land had begun.

The shifting patterns from light and dark, heat and cold, and the cyclical paths of the Sun, Moon, stars, and eclipses were pondered ever since our primeval ancestors first gazed out at the starry heavens. Their daily rhythm ruled each of the various stages of life, and their very survival.

Ancient cultures considered the flow of time to be a circle without beginning or end. Since people were mostly farmers, hunters and shepherds, they lived and worked closer to nature than in ages past. It was important that they knew the 'lore of the land' just to survive. They observed that the various phases the moon passed through in a month coincided with events transpiring in their environment. To this end, they learned to plant, fish, harvest, hunt, and make predictions, all by the light of the silvery moon.
Humanity seemed very little in control of the divine laws of nature. There were major and minor cycles of experience, and the mysteries of the heavens were a revelation of some divine principle of which they were a part. The ebb and flow of the seasons reflected life as a whole, in life, death, growth, rebirth and change. This was revealed to humanity in the metaphor of the Gods. They also paid careful attention to the eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Their basic assumption was that there is a sequence of consequences between events in the heavens and events occurring on the earth. ("As above, so below".) These observations formed the universal laws that are the foundations of ancient wisdom. The Moon and the Sun have been charged with certain attributes ever since the dawn of time. The Moon was the first universal measurer of time. The Moon symbolizes time, fate, spinning, wheels, weaving, cauldrons, and of course the Great Mother or feminine influence.