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	<title>barometer &amp;laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed</title>
	<link>http://en.wordpress.com/tag/barometer/</link>
	<description>Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "barometer"</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:12:00 +0000</pubDate>

	<generator>http://en.wordpress.com/tags/</generator>
	<language>en</language>

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<title><![CDATA[Myspace Music Launches new products for Musicians and fans]]></title>
<link>http://thespotlightreport.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/myspace-music-launches-new-products-for-musicians-and-fans/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:34:59 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>thespotlightreport</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thespotlightreport.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/myspace-music-launches-new-products-for-musicians-and-fans/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The gigantic communitity network MySpace Music launched this Wednesday 2nd December 2009 three new p]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><a href="http://thespotlightreport.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/6a00d8341c630a53ef010535a96439970b-800wi.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1801" title="6a00d8341c630a53ef010535a96439970b-800wi" src="http://thespotlightreport.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/6a00d8341c630a53ef010535a96439970b-800wi.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="219" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The gigantic communitity network <em><strong>MySpace Music</strong> </em>launched this Wednesday<strong> 2<sup>nd</sup> December 2009</strong> three new products: <em><strong>Myspace Music Charts</strong>, <strong>Music Videos</strong> and <strong>Artist Dashboard</strong> </em>in Australia<strong>.<em> </em></strong><em><strong><strong>As</strong><strong> </strong>Nick Love</strong></em> the Executive Director, Business Development at MySpace explains “The launch of Music Videos, Music Charts and Artist Dashboard mark the next phase of the MySpace Music experience in Australia&#8221;.</p>
<p>The new products are:</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>MySpace Music Charts &#8211; </strong><a href="http://www.myspace.com/music/charts" target="_blank">www.myspace.com/music/charts</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Give to the fans a true picture of artists and music popularity. This  barometer show what people are actually listening to. For the artists MySpace Charts show and labels useful information about what’s resonating with fans, tools to rank and track popularity, as well as insight into how their content is being socialised throughout MySpace. The new “Movers” section which gives an immediate view into who and what is trending up in music across MySpace.</p>
<p><strong>MySpace Music Videos &#8211; </strong><a href="http://www.myspace.com/music/videos">www.myspace.com/music/videos</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Offers fans one of the most comprehensive online collections of licensed music videos available anywhere on the web, music recommendations based on your friends, A to Z cataogue, following MySpace’s recent      acquisition of iLike-  a leading social music discovery and sharing      service- iLike now features and distributes MySpace’s music video      catalogue within all partner websites</p>
<p><strong>MySpace Artist Dashboard</strong> &#8211; <a href="http://www.myspace.com/music/dashboard">www.myspace.com/music/dashboard</a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Is a free data dashboard for all artists and labels globally, that unlocks detailed analytics about an artist’s content within the MySpace Music and iLike communities. Give Unlimited access to charts,      graphs, and snapshots of MySpace Music data for all global artist, data includes fan geography,      song plays, profile views, friend count, and profile visitors, iLike integration into MySpace      Artist Dashboard provides top-level data from iLike’s partner networks, Artist Dashboard is available      in 17 languages in over 20 territories and fan demographic Information</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><em><strong>MySpace Music</strong> </em>offers a huge catalog of free audio and video content and user and artist playlisting. MySpace Music aims to empower  independent and unsigned artists by allowing the community stream content.  Over the last few months MySpace has unveiled a wave of global music partnerships with<strong> iLike</strong> and <strong>Google</strong>. Lately announced an agreement with leading independent music agency <strong>Merlin</strong> this week representing 10% of the global music market.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">All these products can produce a revolution in the way that we listen music, Don&#8217;t miss the oportunity to try MySpace Charts, Music Videos and Dashboard from this week.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Perplexed]]></title>
<link>http://theindecisives.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/perplexed-2/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:17:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>forkboy</dc:creator>
<guid>http://theindecisives.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/perplexed-2/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Another of my just-sneaking-in-under-the-wire moments for the group project. You never would have kn]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Another of my just-sneaking-in-under-the-wire moments for the group project.  You never would have known this whole thing was my idea <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>So what do I have to say for myself?  Voila!</p>
<p><a href="http://theindecisives.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/4148646190_6ffdf691751.jpg"><img src="http://theindecisives.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/4148646190_6ffdf691751.jpg" alt="" title="4148646190_6ffdf69175" width="500" height="257" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-527" /></a></p>
<p>I suppose I have no one to blame but myself.  It is clearly not an image that required any &#8220;think outside the box&#8221;.  I freely concede that.  No point in trying to do otherwise.  If I had been a far more clever lad I would have jumped right in, feet first, with my original idea, which was a photograph of the mess of cables and wires pouring out behind the computer cabinet in the basement.  </p>
<p>However, not being a particularly clever lad I missed that window of opportunity and conceded it to that rascal Mike.  And mine would have had far more cable and even bigger tangles!  </p>
<p>Humph.</p>
<p>Then came the thought of borrowing myself as a model and doing something whereby I might muster a perplexed expression while fiddling with some thing&#8230;an owner&#8217;s manual, a new electronic toy, etc.  Alas this opportunity also went begging.  </p>
<p>Are you beginning to see a pattern?  If not, let me give you a hand:  I suck.</p>
<p>Licking my wounds, I put the whole matter out of my head and hoped for divine inspiration.  Another wrong move considering my atheistic activities.  &#8220;So now what?&#8221; I mused while dragging out my IBM Selectric III typewriter as I had some typing I wanted to do.</p>
<p>&#8220;Hum&#8230;&#8221; I muttered to myself.  &#8220;What is this preoccupation with a typewriter when I have perfectly fine word processing opportunities scattered about the house?  Three computers.  Three printers.  What gives?&#8221;  And it was at this moment I realized I was perplexed.</p>
<p>About myself.</p>
<p>(big surprise, right?)</p>
<p>And this particular oddity is not completely alone in the dichotomy that makes up the Forkboy world.  Oh no.  There is also my preoccupation with mechanical timepieces (both clocks and watches).  And with mechanical weather measuring instruments.  </p>
<p>It is perplexing, and I think you may agree, that a guy who so completely and utterly embraces our modern consumer electronic world would also keep one foot squarely rooted in the past in certain areas.  And as well as I believe I know and understand myself I cannot, for the life of me, offer a reason for these diametrically opposed positions.  </p>
<p>Why would I want to type, when I can speedily and readily utilize a word processing application?  Why would I better appreciate a watch that must be wound and loses/gains seconds every day over a modern LCD that not only tells time, but can act as an alarm, stop-watch and timer?  And what is up with the desire for a thermometer, barometer and hydrometer when one can purchase a sleek, modern and sophisticated weather station that will output to your computer and give you hour-by-hour information over time?</p>
<p><b><i>It doesn&#8217;t make sense!  It&#8217;s weird!  It&#8217;s nonsensical!  It&#8217;s perplexing!!</i></b></p>
<p>But it&#8217;s me.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Neu im Sortiment: Wempe Uhren]]></title>
<link>http://busseyachtshop.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/neu-im-sortiment-wempe-uhren/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:29:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>busseyachtshop</dc:creator>
<guid>http://busseyachtshop.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/neu-im-sortiment-wempe-uhren/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Seit dieser Woche finden Sie nun auch Wempe Uhren in unserem neuem Online- Shop. Die Senator- Serie ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7980"><img class="alignleft" title="Barometer der Serie Senator II von Wempe" src="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/media/images/produkte/wempe/wempe-cw340002-200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="197" /></a>Seit dieser Woche finden Sie nun auch <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbc.php?&#38;tpl=suchehersteller.html&#38;q=Wempe" target="_blank">Wempe Uhren</a> in unserem neuem Online- Shop.<br />
Die <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbc.php?&#38;tpl=produktliste.html&#38;rid=363" target="_blank">Senator- Serie</a> gehört hierbei zu den Klassikern unter den mechanischen Glasenuhren. Neben einer <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7979" target="_blank">mechanischen Glasenuhr mit römischen Ziffern</a>, gibt es  in der Senator- Serie, in der die Uhren aus auf Hochglanz poliertem Chrom gefertigt sind, einen <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7980" target="_blank">Präzisions-Barometer</a> und ein <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7981" target="_blank">Hygrometer mit integriertem Thermometer</a>.<br />
Ebenfalls neu im Sortiment sind die Uhren der <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbc.php?&#38;tpl=produktliste.html&#38;rid=364" target="_blank">Serie Bremen II</a>. Dieses, aus Messing gefertigete Sortiment, bietet eine noch größere Auswahl als die Senator- Serie. Dieser Klassiker, wurde nach 20 Jahren komplett überarbeitet. Nun kann man dank eines neuen Glasrandes die Instrumente bequem von vorne öffnen. So wird der Batteriewechsel oder die Justierung des Baro- oder Comfortmeter zu einem Kinderspiel. Neben einer <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7985" target="_blank">mechanischen Glasenuhr mit arabischen</a> oder <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7982" target="_blank">römischen Ziffern</a> gibt es hier auch ein<a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7983" target="_blank"> Baro-</a> und ein <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7984" target="_blank">Comfortmeter</a> und <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7986" target="_blank">Quarzwerkuhren mit arabischen</a> oder <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7987" target="_blank">römischen Ziffern</a>, sowie <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7988" target="_blank">Quarzwerkuhren mit Tidenanzeige</a> und eine <a href="http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/shop/wbcdirect.php?pid=7989" target="_blank">Quarzwerkuhr auf der die Funksektoren</a> sichtbar sind.<br />
Wie schon bei anderen Produken in unserem Sortiment, ist es bei allen vorgestellten Uhren möglich sich auf der Produktseite ein hochauflösendes Bild der jeweiligen Uhr anzusehen.</p>
<p>Von Kevin Schröder</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Frejdig/Advarsel &amp; Rekame.]]></title>
<link>http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/frejdigadvarsel-reklame/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:01:59 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Frejdig</dc:creator>
<guid>http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/frejdigadvarsel-reklame/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Advarslen kan ikke blive for kraftig, det kan reklamen så til gengæld heller ikke. 1. december sker ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><span style="color:#0000ff;"><span style="color:#0000ff;">A</span>dvarslen kan ikke blive for kraftig, det kan reklamen så til gengæld heller ikke. 1. december sker det. Lad os tage det grimme først. På denne dato, 1. december går et årligt skrækscenario igang, nemlig Hvid Jul&#8217;s Barometer på Tv2 vejret.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><a href="http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/hvid-juls-barometer.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1153  aligncenter" title="Hvid Jul's barometer." src="http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/hvid-juls-barometer.jpg" alt="" width="129" height="87" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;">Gyseligt, mine damer og herrer. At se disse fjollede vejrmænd og koner, kigge lalleglade på dette årlige barometer, og hvor de alle som en, ser ud til, at have vundet årets mandelgave til julefrokosten på Tv2, hvis bare de kan få sneget én enkelt mørk sky ind i deres vejrudsigt, hvor der <strong>måske </strong>er en mulighed for, at der kan falde et enkelt snefnug på Lars Tyndskids Mark. Heldigvis for disse vejrmænd og koner, er der Lars Tyndskids Marker nok at tage af, så det kunne jo være! Jamen det kunne det da! Ikke sandt? Nå ikke? He he.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;">Tag denne advarsel meget alvorligt, mine damer og herrer. Sådan en vejrudsigt i december måned, kan næsten føles som et helt ondt år!!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><a href="http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/frejdigs-jul.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1154  aligncenter" title="Frejdigs jul." src="http://alienfrejdig.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/frejdigs-jul.jpg" alt="" width="479" height="494" /></a></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;">Og så til reklamen. Vi skal jo have det gode med også. Reklamen <strong>er: (</strong>Fanfare følger<strong>):</strong> <strong>Trutterut trutterut trutterut (paukeslag) mere trut:</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;">På datoen 1. december, vil der her på kanalen, komme en julekalender, tegnet, fortalt og med underlægningsmusik, i tilfælde af, at sådant haves, af jeres one and only: <strong>Frejdig</strong>.  He he. Mere kan ikke røbes for nuværende, jeg er jo ikke startet med at skrive den endnu. Men at der bliver 24 afsnit, kan du tage som et løfte. Om der så også kommer sne på skærmen, er uden for Frejdigs indflydelse.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;">Men den bliver spændende, hjertegribende, en rigtig tåreperser, og måske også lidt morsom. Selvom julen naturligvis er en meget alvorlig ting.  Nej vent lidt Frejdig? (tænke, tænke, tænke). En reklame skal jo være slagkraftig. Så altså mine damer og herrer: Den bliver <strong>helt vildt spændende, hjertegribende, en rigtig tåreperser, og måske også lidt morsom.    </strong>(Håber jeg da, jeg har jo endnu ingen anelse &#8230; &#8230; &#8230; &#8230; &#8230;he he &#8230;. &#8230;. &#8230; &#8230; &#8230; &#8230; &#8230;).</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>Husk datoen. 1. december!!!! </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>Skriv den op et sted, hvor den ikke bliver væk.</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Canadian Business Barometer October 2009]]></title>
<link>http://purplejunction.com/2009/11/06/canadian-business-barometer-october-2009/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:52:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Brian Hurley</dc:creator>
<guid>http://purplejunction.com/2009/11/06/canadian-business-barometer-october-2009/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[CFIB’s Business Barometer® Index dropped to 67.0 in October, from 68.7 a month earlier.   Measured o]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[CFIB’s Business Barometer® Index dropped to 67.0 in October, from 68.7 a month earlier.   Measured o]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Introduction to Apologetics, Part 5: Blaise Pascal]]></title>
<link>http://modernpensees.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/introduction-to-apologetics-part-5-blaise-pascal/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:14:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Michael Graham</dc:creator>
<guid>http://modernpensees.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/introduction-to-apologetics-part-5-blaise-pascal/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Blaise Pascal: Apologist to the Skeptic I can think of no Christian writer, not Newman even, more to]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><div id="attachment_190" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 289px"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761840133/ref=modepens-20"><img class="size-full wp-image-190" title="Blaise Pascal" src="http://modernpensees.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/blaise-pascal.jpg" alt="Blaise Pascal" width="279" height="326" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Blaise Pascal:  Apologist to the Skeptic</p></div>
<blockquote><p>I can think of no Christian writer, not Newman even, more to be commended than Pascal to those who doubt, but who have the mind to conceive, and the sensibility to feel, the disorder, the futility, the meaninglessness, the mystery of life and suffering, and who can only find peace through a satisfaction of the whole being. &#8211; T.S. Eliot</p></blockquote>
<p>If you do not know me (or could not guess from the main title of this blog), then you may not know of my sincere affection for the thoughts of <a title="Wiki on Blaise Pascal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_pascal" target="_self">Blaise Pascal</a> (1623-1662).  Previously on this blog, I wrote this short bio:</p>
<blockquote><p>Blaise Pascal was a scientist, mathematician, philosopher, and theologian.   In science, he essentially invented the hydraulic press, syringes, vacuums, and the barometer.  In mathematics, he made advances in probability theory, game theory, geometry, and foundational presuppositions to economics.     In philosophy and theology, Pascal had one work published after his death – <em>Pensees</em> (French for ‘thoughts’).  Pascal lived an anguishing and brief life of intense physical pain (likely stomach cancer and brain lesions/damage) and joy.  He died at age 39.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Further Background</strong></p>
<p>Adding to this, later in life Pascal was a Jansenist.  <a title="Wiki on Jansenism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jansenism" target="_self">Jansenism</a> was a small branch of Catholicism highly influenced by <a title="Wiki on St. Augustine" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustinism" target="_self">St. Augustine</a> (354-430).   Following Augustine, Jansenism has a high view of God and highlights God&#8217;s sovereignty in salvation.  Augustine was critical and seminal in the Protestant Reformation and, as such, much of Pascal&#8217;s thoughts appear Protestant and Calvinistic.</p>
<p>Pascal was substantially ahead of his time in science, mathematics, and philosophy (and may still be).  Pascal also transcends many different categories.  He is esteemed by both (some) Catholics and Protestants.  He is balanced on the role of reason and faith.  In the wake of the <a title="Thirty Years War" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_years_war" target="_self">Thirty Years War</a>, a European civil war over religion, which most historians point to as the death of religion in Europe, Pascal was vehemently defending Christianity.  He was a sharp critic of <a title="Wiki on Descartes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descartes" target="_self">Rene Descartes</a> and the foolishness of the <a title="Wiki on the Enlightenement Project" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment" target="_self">Enlightenment Project</a>, three hundred years before it became vogue to bash on modernism and the Enlightenment.  Pascal was both  incredibly thoughtful and emotionally passionate in his Christianity.</p>
<p><strong>Pascal&#8217;s Apologetic</strong></p>
<p>Pascal&#8217;s apologetic is brilliant.  His argumentation does not necessarily follow the paradigm of Premise 1, Premise 2, Premise 3, Premise 4, and therefore Conclusion.  Pascal appeals to individual experience, community experience, reason, and the Scriptures.  While the others of his day were extolling the absolute infallibility and perfection of pure reason, Pascal pointed out its weaknesses and inability to provide the necessary answers to being and experience.</p>
<p>Pascal starts by showing the boundaries of what reason alone can and cannot do:</p>
<p><em>On Reason</em></p>
<p>173.  If we submit everything to reason our religion will be left with nothing mysterious or supernatural.  If we offend the principles of reason our religion will be absurd and ridiculous.</p>
<p>183.  Two excesses:  to exclude reason, to admit nothing but reason.</p>
<p>188.  Reason&#8217;s last step is the recognition that there are an infinite number of things which are beyond it.  It is merely feeble in it does not go as far as to realize that.  If natural things are beyond it, what are we to say about supernatural things?</p>
<p>Pascal continues to challenge scientific rationalism (the Enlightenment Project), mainly by pointing out weaknesses in Descartes:</p>
<p><em>On Descartes </em>(and by corollary the Enlightenment Project)<em><br />
</em></p>
<p>78.  Descartes:  useless and uncertain</p>
<p>553.  Write against those who probe science to deeply.  Descartes.</p>
<p>Pascal then examines many opposites, paradoxes, and antinomies:  Faith and reason.  Greatness and wretchedness.  Meaninglessness and Meaning.  Heart and Mind.  Certainty and uncertainty.  Boredom and happiness.  Diversion and rest.  He concludes that the true religion must account for all of these extremes.  He also puts forth an epistemology:</p>
<p>110.  We know the truth not only through our reason but also through our heart.  It is through the latter we know first principles, and reason, which has nothing to do with it, tries in vain to refute them.  The sceptics have no other object than that, and they work at it to no purpose.  We know that we are not dreaming, but, however unable we may be to prove it rationally, our inability proves nothing but the weakness of our reason, and not the uncertainty of our knowledge, as they maintain.  For knowledge of first principles, like space, time, motion, number, is as solid as any derived through reason, and it is on such knowledge coming from the heart and instinct, that reason has to depend and base all its argument.  The heart feels that there are three spatial dimensions and that there is an infinite series of numbers, and reason goes on to demonstrate that there are no two square numbers of which one is double the other.  Principles are felt, propositions are proved, and both with certainty through different means&#8230;  Our inability must therefore serve only to humble reason, which would like to be the judge of everything, but not to confute our certainty.  As if reason were the only way we could learn!</p>
<p><em>On Faith</em></p>
<p><em>185. </em>Faith certainly tells us what the senses do not, but not the contrary of what they see; it is above, not against them.</p>
<p>Pascal shows his reader the wretchedness of his estate, the weakness of his reason, and shows him the true happiness of Christ and the Gospel against that dark backdrop.  Pascal transcends the different apologetic categories we have listed thus far.  He was far before his time and embodies the essence of the classic Richard Pratt quote, &#8220;Because the deck of life is always shifting balance can be nothing more than momentary synchronicity.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Concluding Thoughts</strong></p>
<p>In this writers opinion, if the modern era had read Pascal more widely the arrogance of the Enlightenment Project and modernism may have never occurred and Europe might still be substantially Christian today.  Pascal&#8217;s non-linear methodology also suits a third way between the arrogance of modernism and uncertainty of post-modernism.  <a title="Pensees" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140446451?ie=UTF8&#38;tag=modepens-20&#38;linkCode=as2&#38;camp=1789&#38;creative=390957&#38;creativeASIN=0140446451" target="_self">Tolle lege!</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Premature Barometer Test: McDonnell wins Virginia by Jeffrey Pillow]]></title>
<link>http://jpillow.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/premature-barometer-test-mcdonnell-wins-virginia/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:21:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jeffrey Pillow</dc:creator>
<guid>http://jpillow.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/premature-barometer-test-mcdonnell-wins-virginia/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Political pundits and critics nationwide have been watching the Virginia gubernatorial race closely ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Political pundits and critics nationwide have been watching the Virginia gubernatorial race closely over the last few weeks: (R) Bob McDonnell vs. (D) Creigh Deeds. The Associated Press has now reported McDonnell the winner after polls closed less than an hour and a half ago. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/03/politics/main5515377.shtml">From CBS</a>.</p>
<p>Supposedly, at least for the political critics and cynics, this race for Virginia governor between McDonnell and Deeds is to serve as a barometer for how well the nation likes Barack Obama&#8217;s policies. Actually, it could be anything but. Instead it is a recurring trend in Virginia politics.</p>
<p>Yes, Virginia voted for a Democrat for the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson this election. However, I say this isn&#8217;t a proper barometer for one reason: look at Virginia&#8217;s history. We suffer from election hangover. We always have.</p>
<p>What I mean by that is simple: the winning party is burnt out. People aren&#8217;t amped up come the state election the following November. They already &#8220;got out the vote.&#8221; &#8220;Their candidate&#8221; already won. It&#8217;s a sad state of affairs and it&#8217;s a shame it happens, I know. But that&#8217;s the trend. Both political parties&#8217; supporters are guilty.</p>
<p>If a Democrat is President, we typically have a Republican governor. If a Republican is President, our state governor is a Democrat. If you don&#8217;t believe me, see below:</p>
<blockquote><p>1976 Presidential race winner: Jimmy Carter (D)<br />
1977 VA Governor race winner: John Dalton (R)</p>
<p>1980 Presidential race winner: Ronald Reagan (R)<br />
1981 VA Governor race winner: Chuck Robb (D)</p>
<p>1984 Presidential race winner: Ronald Reagan (R)<br />
1985 VA Governor race winner: Gerald Baliles (D)</p>
<p>1988 Presidential race winner: George H. W. Bush (R)<br />
1989 VA Governor race winner: Douglas Wilder (D)</p>
<p>1992 Presidential race winner: Bill Clinton (D)<br />
1993 VA Governor race winner: George Allen (R)</p>
<p>1996 Presidential race winner: Bill Clinton (D)<br />
1997 VA Governor race winner: Jim Gilmore (R)</p>
<p>2000 Presidential race winner: George W. Bush (R)<br />
2001 VA Governor race winner: Mark Warner (D)</p>
<p>2004 Presidential race winner: George W. Bush (R)<br />
2005 VA Governor race winner: Tim Kaine (D)</p>
<p>2008 Presidential race winner: Barack Obama (D)<br />
2009 VA Governor race winner: Bob McDonnell (R)</p></blockquote>
<p>History is history. And Virginia is no barometer. Sorry GOP. Sorry overly happy political critics. McDonnell Wins Virginia is a Premature Barometer Test for Obama&#8217;s policies. It says but one thing: your President is a Democrat and your Governor is a Republican.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.jeffreypillow.com">www.jeffreypillow.com</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Sondaj de opinie]]></title>
<link>http://daissector.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/sondaj-de-opinie/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>diass008</dc:creator>
<guid>http://daissector.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/sondaj-de-opinie/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Senatul Studentesc te invita sa participi la trendence Graduate Barometer &#8211; sondajul anual, ce]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Senatul Studentesc te invita sa participi la trendence Graduate Barometer &#8211; sondajul anual, ce]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Kvikksølv, Kaos og Klima]]></title>
<link>http://erikwkn.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/kvikks%c3%b8lv-kaos-og-klima/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:29:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Erik W. Kolstad</dc:creator>
<guid>http://erikwkn.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/kvikks%c3%b8lv-kaos-og-klima/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Jeg holdt foredrag i P2-akademiet i går. Lydklippet finner du her, og her er teksten: Erik Kolstad: ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Jeg holdt foredrag i P2-akademiet i går. Lydklippet finner du <a href="http://podkast.nrk.no/fil/p2-akademiet/nrk_p2-akademiet_2009-1031-0703_40295.mp3?stat=1&#38;pks=40295" target="_self">her</a>, og her er teksten:</p>
<p><strong>Erik Kolstad: «Kvikksølv, kaos og klima: værvarslingens historie»; foredrag i P2-Akademiet<span style="font-weight:normal;"> </span></strong></p>
<p>Været er ofte det første man tyr til i samtaler med folk som det er vanskelig å samtale med. Alle har en god værhistorie. Det uventete fenger mest; en skypumpe på fisketur eller en hvit jul i Bergen.</p>
<p>Været kan skifte raskt, men det følger også en del faste sykluser. Temperaturen synker som regel om natten og stiger om dagen. Det er varmere om sommeren enn på vinteren. Hvorfor er det da så vanskelig å forutsi hvordan været blir den neste uken? Og hvorfor har vi større forutsetning for å vite hvordan klimaet blir i fremtiden enn om det kommer til å regne til helgen?</p>
<p>Dette er sentrale problemstillinger i faget <em>meteorologi</em>, et ord som er utledet av det greske ordet <em>meteoros</em>, som betyr «høyt oppe». Dette ordet, som kanskje gir sterkere assosiasjoner til meteorer og astronomi enn vær, kan spores tilbake til Aristoteles. For 2350 år siden skrev han en bok med tittelen <em>Meteorologica</em>, som handlet litt om Melkeveien, kometer og meteorer, litt om jordskjelv, men også mye om vær, eller med Aristoteles’ ord: «fallende tordenstråler, virvelvinder og ildvinder».</p>
<p>Før vi ler høyt av at vinder og jordskjelv nevnes i samme åndedrag, må vi huske på at Aristoteles levde i en verden hvor det ennå ikke var klart opptegnete grenser mellom astronomi, kjemi, fysikk og matematikk, eller filosofi for den saks skyld. I dag finnes disse grensene, og meteorologien er dypt forankret i fysikken – altså den delen av naturvitenskapen som dreier seg om energi og <em>materie</em>, eller «ting» på godt norsk.</p>
<p>Her kan man innvende at været har mer med luft enn «ting» å gjøre. Riktignok fører været til at det faller ting, nærmere bestemt nedbør – eller <em>hydrometeorer</em>, som det heter på fagspråket – fra himmelen, men vind er luft i bevegelse. Og lenge trodde man at luften ikke hadde masse, og at den dermed ikke var en «ting» på linje med for eksempel vann eller is. I så måte kom et av de store gjennombruddene i meteorologien i år 1683.</p>
<p>Italieneren Evangelista Torricelli var i likhet med mange naturfilosofer besatt av det bedragerske fenomenet <em>vakuum</em> – det totale tomrom. Fantes det i det hele tatt? Platon og Aristoteles trodde ikke det. Araberne var mindre skråsikre, og allerede på begynnelsen av 1200-tallet konstruerte Al-Jazari, som var fra dagens Irak, den første vannpumpen. I dag er det åpenbart at både støvsugere og vannpumper fungerer ved at man mekanisk tvinger bort luft, som da umiddelbart blir erstattet av henholdsvis luft og vann – altså en vakuumeffekt. Like åpenbart var det ikke i middelalderen. Man kunne risikere å bli brent på bålet dersom man trodde på det ugudelige vakuumet. Men denne floken ble delvis løst i år 1277, da biskopen i Paris erklærte at Gud, siden han er perfekt, i prinsippet <em>kunne</em> ha bestemt seg for å lage et vakuum, selv om det var ugudelig. Likevel var det helt frem til Torricellis tid helt legitimt å betvile vakuumets eksistens. (Av puristiske hensyn føler jeg meg her tvunget til å påpeke at den moderne fysikken viser at vakuumets eksistens faktisk <em>er</em> høyst tvilsom, men det er en annen historie som ikke er relevant for værvarsling.)</p>
<p>Torricelli og hans kompanjonger var på jakt etter et vakuum. Det de gjorde var å fylle et langt, tynt glassrør med kvikksølv og sette det opp-ned i en vase som også var fylt med kvikksølv. Dersom man gjør dette med vann i stedet for kvikksølv – og dette hadde både de og andre prøvd – skjer det ikke så mye, men kvikksølv er så tungt at litt av vesken rant ned i vasen og etterlot seg et tomrom i bunnen av røret, som nå stakk opp i været. Dette tomrommet var rett og slett et laboratorieskapt vakuum, og at man kunne fremprovosere et vakuum med så enkle hjelpemidler, var oppsiktsvekkende nok i seg selv. Men det som for oss er enda mer besnærende, er Torricellis tanker om hvorfor ikke <em>alt</em> kvikksølvet rant ut i vasen. Noe måtte holde det igjen, og Torricelli fastslo helt korrekt at luften i atmosfæren presset ned på overflaten av kvikksølvet i vasen. Og dersom atmosfæren kunne trykke kvikksølvet ned, måtte den ha masse. Da vår helt innså dette, utbrøt han begeistret i et brev at «vi lever på bunnen av et hav av luft». Akkurat da han lyktes i å skape vakuumet, ropte han nok «Eureka» også, i hvert fall inni seg.</p>
<p>Torricellis eksperiment gjorde furore, og det varte ikke lenge før mange slike instrumenter dukket opp rundt omkring i Europa. Dermed oppdaget man også at høyden på søylen med kvikksølv varierte med værets svingninger. Når søylen sank, og dermed trykket fra luften også sank, gikk det gjerne mot dårligere vær. Og motsatt, i godværsperioder stod søylen høyt i glassrøret.</p>
<p><em>Barometrene</em> (fra gresk <em>baros</em> «vekt» og <em>metron</em> «mål»), som de nye instrumentene ble hetende, var de første vitenskapelig funderte værvarslingsverktøyene. Selv om det i første omgang var basert mer på erfaring – altså at lavtrykk gir dårlig vær og høytrykk gir godt vær – enn teori, tok det ikke lang tid før noen begynte å spørre seg hvorfor det var sånn, slik det gjerne går i vitenskapens verden.</p>
<p>For dagens meteorologer og andre som er interessert i vær og klima, er det en kjent sak at det er lokale forskjeller i lufttrykk som skaper vind. Stormer og orkaner er ikke noe annet enn kraftige lavtrykk som gjør at de lokale trykkforskjellene blir store. Dermed er det kort vei til å forstå hvorfor raske trykkfall på barometrene kan forventes å etterfølges eller ledsages av væromslag.</p>
<p>Det skulle likevel ta lang tid før man fant skikkelig ut av sammenhengen mellom lufttrykk og vær og vind. Dette til tross for at den ble regnet som viktig, og da særlig for de store sjøfartsnasjonene. Den østlige medvinden i tropene var til stor hjelp for seilskutene som hadde rundet det sørlige Afrika på vei hjem til Europa. Det var verre når man hadde krysset ekvator og ble offer for nordøstlig motvind, men disse vindene var til gjengjeld viktige når man skulle krysse Atlanteren fra Europa mot Amerika. De fikk navnet <em>handelsvinder</em>, og det var avgjørende å få kunnskap om hva som styrte dem.</p>
<p>Storheter som Galileo Galilei, Edmond Halley – han med kometen, samt erkefiendene og universalgeniene Robert Hooke og Isaac Newton, prøvde å knekke koden, men først i år 1735 kom det første store gjennombruddet. Da ble George Hadley (1685–1768) tatt opp som medlem av <em>Royal Society</em> i London. Her kan jeg nevne at et medlemsskap i dette selskapet – 350 år etter dets fødsel – er den ultimate æresbevisningen også for dagens forskere. Hadleys oppgave var å administrere de meteorologiske målingene som strømmet inn fra hele Europa, og allerede det første året som medlem publiserte han <em>sin</em> forklaring på handelsvindene.</p>
<p>Hadleys hypotese var at jordens rotasjon var den avgjørende faktoren. Som en rund snurrebass med pinnen stikkende ut gjennom de geografiske polene svirrer jorden helt rundt én gang i døgnet. Bevegelsen går slik at alle punkter på jordkloden, unntatt de geografiske polene, alltid er i bevegelse fra vest mot øst. Et punkt på ekvator går rundt og rundt med en hastighet på 465 m/s, eller nesten 1700 km/t, mens vi på våre breddegrader kun beveger oss halvparten så fort som dette. Hadleys tanke var at luft som flyttet seg mot nord eller sør ville få endret hastigheten sin. For eksempel ville luft som beveget seg sørover «henge igjen» i forhold til jorden og dermed bli tvunget mot vest.</p>
<p>Dette var en brukbar teori, rent bortsett fra at den overhodet ikke stemte overens med vindene i den virkelige verden. Men det som Hadley <em>hadde</em> skjønt var hvorfor luften beveger seg mot ekvator. Det er også denne delen av hans teori han er kjent for i dag.</p>
<p>Solstrålingen nede ved jordoverflaten er sterkest ved ekvator. Dermed er det luften i tropene som i størst grad blir varmet opp på dagtid. Og varm luft stiger, ettersom den er lettere enn kald luft. Altså er tropene en eneste stor maskin som tvinger luftmasser oppover, noe som er tydelig på dagens satellittbilder, der vi til enhver tid kan se et belte med skyer som omslynger ekvator. Søk for eksempel på <em>den intertropiske konvergenssonen</em>, som dette beltet heter, på internett. Slike bilder hadde ikke Hadley tilgang på, men han visste likevel at det er mye skyer og stigende luft i tropene. Han tenkte som så: «Dersom luften stiger langs ekvator, oppstår det et lavtrykk, og det må komme luft til fra både nord og sør for å ta plassen til de stigende luftmassene. Denne nye luften vil bli dratt mot vest på grunn av jordens rotasjon. Ergo østlige vinder.» Og dette er for så vidt korrekt, om enn ikke akkurat slik Hadley så for seg.</p>
<p>På første halvdel av 1800-tallet ble det vist matematisk at alle ting som er i bevegelse på den nordlige halvkule blir dratt mot høyre. Sør for ekvator blir de dratt mot venstre. Årsaken er jordrotasjonen. Tenk deg at du står på en karusell. Dersom du kaster en ball til en person som står tvers overfor deg, må du sikte litt til venstre for mottakeren for å treffe han. Det virker som at ballen skrur seg mot høyre, selv om det egentlig bare er karusellen som har flyttet seg mens ballen var i luften. Det samme prinsippet gjelder på den roterende jordkloden, slik at man må kompensere dersom man for eksempel skal skyte langt med en kanon.</p>
<p>Vinden, eller luften, som vi nå vet har masse, blir også dratt mot høyre. Derfor går ikke luften rett mot midten av et lavtrykk; den går i spiralbevegelser rundt lavtrykket, <em>mot</em> klokken på den nordlige halvkule, og <em>med</em> klokken på den sørlige halvkule. På samme måte vil luften som er på vei mot den intertropiske konvergenssonen fra nord, bli dratt mot høyre og vestover. Dette hadde amerikaneren William Ferrel (1817–1891) forstått, og i 1856 publiserte han en artikkel som forklarte det. Men som alltid i vitenskapen, selv en god forklaring er aldri komplett, og den egentlige årsaken til de østlige vindene er enda mer kompleks. Vi stopper likevel her. Ferrels teori er mer enn god nok til at vi kan fortsette.</p>
<p>Ferrel kunne også forklare hvorfor vindene på våre breddegrader, langt utenfor tropene, hovedsaklig kommer fra vest. At de gjør det er noe alle vestlendinger kan bekrefte. På Vigra utenfor Ålesund har de til og med et gjestehus som <em>heter</em> «Vestavind», formodentlig ikke uten grunn. De standhaftige vestavindene gir opphav til mange av værtegnene våre, for eksempel: «Aftenrøde gjør en god natt, men morgenrøde drypper i hatt». Hvis morgenen er rød, betyr det at det er pent vær i øst. Da er det en viss sjanse for at det er et lavtrykk og styggevær på vei fra vest. Og tilsvarende, dersom kvelden er rød, er det pent i vest og godvær på vei.</p>
<p>Disse værtegnene er basert på erfaring gjennom generasjoner, og er eksempler på at man ofte kan gi ganske presise værvarsler bare ved å holde øye med skyene. Det værtegnene egentlig sier er at dersom det er dårlig vær nå, så kommer det til å bli bra igjen snart. Og motsatt, hvis det er fint vær nå, kan du være sikker på at det snart blir dårlig. Meteorologisk sett gir dette en viss mening; lavtrykkene bruker ofte en dag eller to på å passere, så får man gjerne en liten pause før neste lavtrykk slår inn.</p>
<p>Men hvorfor er det sånn? Ferrel hadde skjønt mye, men han visste ikke hva som skjedde inni og rundt lavtrykkene. Hvorfor oppstod de plutselig ute i Atlanteren, og hvorfor skjedde det nesten alltid på samme sted? Det ble tidlig klart at dersom man ikke skjønte dette, så kunne man heller ikke drive med presis værvarsling.</p>
<p>Spørsmålet om hvorvidt det var mulig å forutse været dukket nemlig tidsnok opp. I andre deler av fysikken var man tidlig ute med prediksjoner. Det er og var forholdsvis enkelt å regne ut at Halleys komet vil være i <em>perihelium</em>, altså nærmest solen, 28. juli 2061. Men mens én komet er greit å forholde seg til, er det mange luftmolekyler å ta hensyn til i atmosfæren. Det er mange usikkerhetsmomenter, og mye rart kan skje. Og dersom man ikke forstår prosessene som gjør at ting faktisk skjer, så kommer man ikke særlig langt.</p>
<p>Mange var likevel optimistiske med tanke på mulighetene for å drive værvarsling i forrige århundre. Mye takket være pionérene i gruppen til Vilhelm Bjerknes ved Universitetet i Bergen, begynte man å få rimelig god oversikt over hva som styrte værutviklingen. Bjerknes hadde blitt lokket til Bergen under første verdenskrig for å etablere et værvarslingssystem i Norge. Dette var et naturlig valg av base; Bergen er en regnfull by og har i tillegg norgesrekorden i lavt lufttrykk. Bjerknes’ gruppe, som nå er kjent internasjonalt som <em>Bergensskolen</em> i meteorologi, fikk i de følgende årene gode muligheter til å observere lavtrykkene fra orkesterplass.</p>
<p>Det store bidraget fra Bjerknes og hans elever var at de kom opp med en teoretisk modell som forklarte de vesentligste kjennetegnene til et lavtrykk. Den er fremdeles i bruk, og er kjent som <em>Den norske syklonmodellen</em>. <em>Syklon</em> er et synonym for lavtrykk, og sykloner dannes fordi det er ubalanser i luftens temperaturfordeling. Langs det vi kaller <em>fronter</em> er de lokale temperaturforskjellene store, og det er de som er lavtrykkenes arnesteder. Vi vet at når kald luft kommer i kontakt med varm luft, for eksempel hvis man åpner et vindu om vinteren, så begynner den varme og kalde luften å blande seg med en gang. Det blir kaldt i rommet. Før tenkte man at naturen avskydde vakuum, men det er som om den også avskyr temperaturforskjeller, og lavtrykkene er dens beste måte å kvele dem på.</p>
<p>Bjerknes og gjengen hans la merke til at lavtrykkene aller helst oppstod langs <em>polarfronten</em>, som vi gjerne kaller grensesonen mellom polar og tropisk luft midt ute i Atlanteren et sted. Dette er fordi lavtrykkene bruker polarfronten til å lage sine egne fronter. Hvis vi ser på satellittbilder, ser vi et tett bånd med skyer til venstre og litt nedenfor lavtrykkets sneglehusaktige sentrum. Dette er <em>kaldfronten</em>, og her er kalde luftmasser i ferde med å trenge seg inn i den varmere luften i sør. Og siden kald luft er tettere og tyngre enn varm luft, så vil den trenge seg inn <em>under</em> den varme luften. Da blir varmluften presset oppover, og dette kan føre til intens skydannelse. Det er derfor langs kaldfronten det oftest oppstår uvær som torden, hagl og styrtregn.</p>
<p>Til høyre for lavtrykket finner vi <em>varmfronten</em>. Der er det den varme luften som beveger nordover, men siden den er så lett, legger den seg fint oppå den kaldere luften i nord. Langs varmfronten er det også nedbør, men mest sannsynlig bare lett regn eller yr. Til gjengjeld kan det stå på i lang tid. For eksempel var det en varmfront som drev over Vestlandet natt til 14. september 2005, da det ble satt ny rekord for døgnnedbør i Bergen og fire mennesker mistet livet i et jordskred på Hatlestad terrasse.</p>
<p>Etter noen dager vil frontene ha flyttet så mye rundt på luftmassene at temperaturforskjellene forsvinner. Da mister lavtrykket sin motor, og det dør stille ut etter vel gjennomført oppdrag. Men det er garantert nye fronter i emning ute i Atlanteren, og et nytt lavtrykk er i ferd med å dannes. Og slik fortsetter det hele høsten og vinteren gjennom, ganske enkelt fordi det er da temperaturforskjellene mellom tropene og polområdene er størst.</p>
<p>Ved hjelp av en unik blanding av matematisk teori og nitidige observasjoner av lavtrykkene i de norske havområdene, utviklet Bjerknes og hans gruppe sin syklonmodell. Dette gikk ikke upåaktet hen. Med matematikken på plass var det mulig å lage enkle <em>modeller</em> for værvarsling. En av utfordringene var å uttrykke dagens vær, det vi kaller værets <em>initialtilstand</em>, på matematisk form. Men hvis man klarte det, kunne man i prinsippet bruke ligninger til å regne ut hvordan det kom til å utvikle seg fremover i tid. Først ble dette gjort for hånd med blyant og papir. Man var tvunget til å gjøre grove forenklinger for å holde antall utregninger nede på et overkommelig nivå. Likevel hadde man en viss suksess. Det viste seg at noen av ligningene var særlig viktige, og ved hjelp av bare noen få av dem kunne man ofte si noe fornuftig om værutviklingen de nærmeste dagene.</p>
<p>Etter hvert gikk man over til å bruke datamaskiner, og optimismen tiltok i styrke. Den amerikanske meteorologen Edward Lorenz (1917–2008) var en av pionerene. Til tross for at de ligningene han brukte var temmelig enkle, så det ut til at værsystemene i modellen hans utviklet seg noenlunde i tråd med virkeligheten. Han ville derfor sette i gang en lengre <em>simulering</em>, eller «modellkjøring» som vi kaller det. For å spare regnetid tenkte han at det var lurt å bruke tall fra en tidligere simulering som utgangspunkt. Han punchet derfor inn tallene fra midtveis i den gamle kjøringen og satte i gang modellen på nytt.</p>
<p>Lorenz forventet selvsagt at været i den nye kjøringen skulle følge den videre utviklingen i den gamle. Men som ved magi skilte været i de to kjøringene lag og utviklet seg i forskjellige retninger. Årsaken var like enkel som den var uventet. For å spare litt tid hadde Lorenz punchet inn tallene med kun tre desimaler. Dette til tross for at modellen egentlig lagret tallene med seks desimaler. Selv slike små avrundingsfeil var store nok til å få de to modellkjøringene til å ende opp med to ganske ulike værtyper.</p>
<p>De praktiske implikasjonene er besnærende. Bittesmå variasjoner i værets initialtilstand er nok til å endre den videre utviklingen, noen ganger til det ugjenkjennelige. Som Lorenz skrev: «Kan en sommerfugls vingeslag i Brasil sette i gang en tornado i Texas?» Hans oppdagelser danner grunnlag for begrepet <em>sommerfugleffekten</em>, og bidro til at det oppstod en helt egen disiplin innen matematikken og fysikken: <em>kaosteorien</em>. Været, og naturen i det hele tatt, er preget av kaos, vet vi nå.</p>
<p>Den amerikanske forskeren Kerry Emanuel, en av Lorenz&#8217; elever, har en analogi som illustrerer sommerfugleffekten. Vi slipper to blader ut i en bekk. Ti meter lenger nede i bekken plukker vi dem opp, samtidig som vi merker vi oss hvordan de hadde flyttet seg. Kan vi klare å reprodusere bevegelsene deres ved igjen å plassere dem i nøyaktig samme utgangsposisjon? Hadde vi kunnet forutse akkurat hvordan de skulle bevege seg selv med perfekt kunnskap om bekkens strømningsmønstre? Svaret på begge spørsmålene er nei. Det er like umulig som å skulle anslå på forhånd hvor hvert enkelt klesplagg i en vaskemaskin kommer til å ende opp.</p>
<p>Værets kaotiske natur og mangelen på gode nok målinger gjør at værvarsler for lengre enn en uke frem i tid må tas med en klype salt. Man gjør spede forsøk på sesongvarsling, altså varsler for den kommende årstiden under ett, men uten særlig suksess foreløpig. Faktisk er det lettere å varsle langt frem i tid. Men da varsler man <em>klimaet</em> i stedet for været.</p>
<p><em>Klimamodellene</em> har mange fellestrekk med værvarslingsmodellene, men de består også av modeller for hav, sjøis, vegetasjon, kjemi og andre ting som endrer seg over lang tid. Med en klimamodell varsler man hvordan alt dette kommer til å se ut i fremtiden. Og selv om klimaets utvikling styres av mange forhold, for eksempel endringer i styrken på solinnstrålingen eller vulkanutbrudd, skjer alt dette på forskjellige <em>tidsskalaer</em>. Det tar mange hundre eller tusen år for at solstrålingen endrer seg nok til at det endrer klimaet i særlig grad, mens et vulkanutbrudd kun påvirker klimaet i noen få år.</p>
<p>Når det gjelder klimautviklingen de neste hundre årene, er det én faktor som er mye viktigere enn de andre. Det kommer neppe som en bombe at dette er økningen av drivhusgasser i atmosfæren, og CO<sub>2</sub> i særdeleshet. Drivhusgasser, som også inkluderer metan, ozon, lystgass og de skumle KFK-gassene, hindrer varme som er på vei ut mot verdensrommet i å forlate atmosfæren. De tar opp noe av varmen og varmer opp luften rundt seg. Så, i neste steg, stråler de noe av denne overskuddsvarmen ned igjen mot jorden. På lang sikt fører dette til at temperaturen stiger mer eller mindre overalt på kloden.</p>
<p>Oppvarmingen, eller <em>pådrivet</em>, fra drivhusgassene er så sterk at den så å si kveler den kaotiske komponenten i været. Derfor kan man ikke si hva temperaturen på 17. mai i år 2030 kommer til å være, men man kan si at 17. maiene på den tiden etter all sannsynlighet blir varmere enn 17. maiene i dagens klima. Mot slutten av dette århundret regner man med en oppvarming på flere grader globalt sett, og den aller største endringen forventes å komme i Arktis og i sårbare områder som Afrika og Midt-Østen.</p>
<p>Det har skjedd mye innen meteorologien siden Aristoteles skrev at skyene inneholdt «en slags ild». Vi forstår ganske mye om både vær og klima, og tross alt er ikke værvarslene så elendige når det kommer til stykket. Da hadde ikke yr.no vært Norges mest besøkte nettsted. Mange, deriblant jeg, er innom flere ganger om dagen for å sjekke værutsiktene. Yr er veldig nyttig, men det mangler fremdeles noen små detaljer: på siden for Bergen ønsker jeg meg for eksempel en knapp som det står ”Hvit jul” på, rett ved siden av den med ”Tørr høst”.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[The Female Interest Barometer]]></title>
<link>http://hungover.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/the-female-interest-barometer/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:47:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rob Innes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://hungover.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/the-female-interest-barometer/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sometimes there&#8217;s too much interest, and sometimes there&#8217;s not enough. This is where The]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Sometimes there&#8217;s too much interest, and sometimes there&#8217;s not enough. This is where The Female Interest Barometer comes in, where on a scale of 1 to 10, you can work out how interested she is in you and what it means for you.</p>
<p>1 on the scale is zero interest at all, it&#8217;s when you&#8217;re standing in front of her having a conversation and the only replies are coming from yourself. It&#8217;s where after your 25th text message, she still hasn&#8217;t written back, and no, her phone battery hasn&#8217;t died&#8230; She doesn&#8217;t care you exist, she probably hasn&#8217;t remembered your name.</p>
<p>10 on the scale is just as bad as 1 but the direct opposite, it&#8217;s the psycho stalker, it&#8217;s the girl who is so interested in you that after only one or two sentences of conversation believes you to be her ever-lasting soulmate and thus she decides to torture you by attaching herself permanently to your hip. She&#8217;s the one that forces you to change your number, move cities, or run into the woods&#8230; and boy, keep running!</p>
<p>5 on the scale is the middle ground (obviously) she&#8217;s neither here or there, she&#8217;s in &#8220;friend&#8221; territory, and you&#8217;ve got plenty of mates already right? Right??</p>
<p>The perfect interest level is about 7, it&#8217;s where she&#8217;s not telling your parents how many kids you&#8217;re going to have, and she&#8217;s not telling you about her love for the guy next door.  6 has potential, 8 needs to tone it down, but 7 is just right, with a 7 you know she&#8217;s interested in you more than a friend and is willing to let it develop. 7 won&#8217;t clog your inbox, but she&#8217;ll write back to your messages. With a girl who has an interest level of 7 in you, you know you&#8217;re in already, but you have to match her on the interest levels, this is where the girls can use the Male Interest Barometer. The Male Interest Barometer doesn&#8217;t work with numbers, there are just three simple interest levels: Yes, Maybe, or No, with varying shades of grey in between.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Hjemvendt]]></title>
<link>http://maleneschmidt.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/hjemvendt/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:37:50 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Malene</dc:creator>
<guid>http://maleneschmidt.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/hjemvendt/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ligger i den mørke, stille nat og lytter til denne uges Elektriste Barometer. Selvfølgelig – selvføl]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><font size="3" face="Times">Ligger i den mørke, stille nat og lytter til denne uges Elektriste Barometer. Selvfølgelig – selvfølgelig! – det allerførste jeg gør, når jeg kommer hjem fra en uges London-trip. Jeg tager ikke i skole i morgen. Jeg orker det ikke. Det er i virkeligheden ret katastrofalt. Jeg siger til mig selv, jeg skal tage mig sammen, men jeg gør det ikke. Dét er fattigt. Dét er ynkeligt. Det er dér, jeg for alvor mister min egen selvrespekt. </font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times">… I morgen vil jeg gerne fortælle jer om min tur. Jeg vil også gerne fortælle jer om mine tanker omkring min egen homoseksualitet, og også om mine iagttagelser af seksualitet mere generelt. En dag – en skønne dag, når jeg tør og er i stand til det – vil jeg også forsøge at sætte ord på min næsten lammende, næsten altoverskyggende angst for døden. </font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times">Indtil da… nogle billeder (desværre ikke fra London, da mit kamera er midlertidigt smadret… ja… jeg tror faktisk, det er done. 5.500 kroner og nærtstående, trofast ven… goodbye). </font></p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/edithpiaf.jpg"><img style="display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-width:0;" title="edith piaf" border="0" alt="edith piaf" src="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/edithpiaf_thumb.jpg?w=406&#038;h=248" width="406" height="248" /></a><a href="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/rwanda1994survivorofhutudeathcamp.jpg"><img style="display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-width:0;" title="Rwanda, 1994 - Survivor of Hutu death camp." border="0" alt="Rwanda, 1994 - Survivor of Hutu death camp." src="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/rwanda1994survivorofhutudeathcamp-_thumb.jpg?w=406&#038;h=276" width="406" height="276" /></a><a href="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/bettenina.jpg"><img style="display:block;float:none;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;border-width:0;" title="bette nina" border="0" alt="bette nina" src="http://maleneschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/bettenina_thumb.jpg?w=406&#038;h=307" width="406" height="307" /></a></p>
<p align="center">&#160; </p>
<p align="center"><em><font size="6" face="times">lidenskab, </font></em><em><font size="6" face="times">lidelse, </font></em><em><font size="6" face="times">kærlighed</font></em></p>
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<title><![CDATA[My Black SUUNTO Vector]]></title>
<link>http://babaimage.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/my-black-suunto-vector/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:03:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>babaimage</dc:creator>
<guid>http://babaimage.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/my-black-suunto-vector/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I just love big &amp; thick watch. Suuntor Vector is in this catergories and I just got myself a bla]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>I just love big &#38; thick watch. Suuntor Vector is in this catergories and I just got myself a black color with a negative display. My personal opinion I really don&#8217;t like the plastic material built of the watch compared to Casio Protrek in term of money spend.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-213" title="Suunto Vector" src="http://babaimage.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/p1030457.jpg" alt="Suunto Vector" width="450" height="337" /></p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-214" title="Suunto Vector" src="http://babaimage.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/p1030458.jpg" alt="Suunto Vector" width="450" height="337" /></p>
<p>I will write more on this watch later&#8230;time to wear it on my wrist.</p>
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<title><![CDATA["Human Resources Strategies &amp; Social Networks" Barometer - Novametrie &amp; Digital Jobs]]></title>
<link>http://edouardbreine.com/2009/10/05/human-resources-strategies-social-networks-barometer-novametrie-digital-jobs/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:48:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Edouard</dc:creator>
<guid>http://edouardbreine.com/2009/10/05/human-resources-strategies-social-networks-barometer-novametrie-digital-jobs/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Survey: Human Resources Strategies &amp; Social Networks Thursday September 24th 2009, Novametri]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Survey: Human Resources Strategies &amp; Social Networks Thursday September 24th 2009, Novametri]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Exposing click fraud - The Anatomy of Online Scam]]></title>
<link>http://sohandhande.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/exposing-click-fraud-the-anatomy-of-online-scam/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:35:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sohandhande</dc:creator>
<guid>http://sohandhande.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/exposing-click-fraud-the-anatomy-of-online-scam/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Internet marketers facing higher advertising fees on search networks are becoming increasingly conce]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><strong>Internet marketers facing higher advertising fees on search networks are becoming increasingly concerned about a form of online fraud that was thought to have been contained years ago.</strong></p>
<p>The practice, known as &#8220;click fraud,&#8221; began in the early days of the Internet&#8217;s mainstream popularity with programs that automatically surfed Web sites to increase traffic figures. This led companies to develop policing technologies touted as antidotes to the problem. But some marketing executives estimate that up to 20 percent of fees in certain advertising categories continue to be based on nonexistent consumers in today&#8217;s search industry.</p>
<div id="embed">
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">News context:</span></strong></div>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s new:</strong><br />
Net marketers facing higher ad fees are becoming increasingly worried about an online practice known as &#8220;click fraud.&#8221;<strong>Bottom line:</strong><br />
<img src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/guts/highimpact.gif" alt="" width="60" height="35" align="right" />The persistence of click fraud has exposed a fundamental weakness in the promising business of Internet search marketing, but most advertisers aren&#8217;t sure how to address the problem.</p>
</div>
<p>In one recent example of the problem, law enforcement officials say a California man created a software program that he claimed could let spammers bilk Google out of millions of dollars in fraudulent clicks. Authorities said he was arrested while trying to blackmail Google for $150,000 to hand over the program. He was indicted by a California jury in June.</p>
<p>Matt Parrella, chief of the San Jose branch of the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office in Northern California, said that case was &#8220;not unique.&#8221; The problem &#8220;is certainly not shrinking, and we&#8217;re ready to prosecute people,&#8221; said Parrella, whose office handled the Google case.</p>
<p>Click fraud is perpetrated in both automated and human ways. The most common method is the use of online robots, or  &#8220;<a title="Man arrested for allegedly extorting Google -- Monday, Mar 22, 2004" href="http://news.cnet.com/Man-arrested-for-allegedly-extorting-Google/2100-1032_3-5176670.html" target="_blank">bots</a>,&#8221; programmed to click on advertisers&#8217; links that are displayed on Web sites or listed in search queries. A growing alternative employs low-cost workers who are hired in China, India and other countries to click on text links and other ads. A third form of fraud takes place when employees of companies click on rivals&#8217; ads to deplete their marketing budgets and skew search results.</p>
<p>Although the extent of click fraud is impossible to measure with any certainty, its persistence has exposed a fundamental weakness in the promising business of <a title="Paid search feels growing pains -- Thursday, Jul 8, 2004" href="http://news.cnet.com/Paid-search-feels-growing-pains/2100-1024_3-5260471.html" target="_blank">Internet search marketing</a>. Google&#8217;s pending initial public offering has been widely anticipated as a <a title="Yahoo profit doubles; shares tumble -- Wednesday, Jul 7, 2004" href="http://news.cnet.com/Yahoo-profit-doubles-shares-tumble/2100-1038_3-5260208.html" target="_blank">barometer of online advertising</a> and the post-apocalyptic dot-com climate in general.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s hard to tell how big the problem is, but people are looking at it closer and closer as the cost of search advertising goes up,&#8221; said John Squire, vice president of business development of <a href="http://www.coremetrics.com/" target="_blank">Coremetrics</a>, a Web analytics firm. &#8220;Click fraud is a fin sticking out of the water: You&#8217;re not sure if it&#8217;s a great white shark or a dolphin.&#8221;</p>
<p>Unlike advertising in traditional media such as billboards and print publications, &#8220;cost per click&#8221; Internet ads displayed with specific keyword searches have been promoted as a definitive way for companies to gauge their exposure to potential customers. As a result, U.S. sales from advertiser-paid search results are expected to grow 25 percent this year to $3.2 billion, up from $2.5 billion in 2003, according to research firm eMarketer. From 2002 to 2003, the market rose by 175 percent.</p>
<p>As more advertisers have competed for desirable keywords in their industries, the cost for clicks has risen too. On average, advertisers are paying 45 cents per click this year, according to financial analysts, up from 40 cents in 2003 and 30 cents in the second quarter of 2002. In certain sectors, such as travel, legal advice and gaming, the cost can reach several dollars per click.</p>
<p>But marketing executives say click fraud is pervasive among affiliates of search leaders Google, Yahoo-owned Overture Services and FindWhat.com. In a typical affiliation, any Web publisher can become a partner of these large networks by displaying their paid links on a Web page or within its own search results and then share in the profits with every click.</p>
<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a fatal flaw in the cost-per-click model because a ton of marketing dollars can be depleted in a fraction of a second,&#8221; said Jessie Stricchiola, president of <a href="http://www.alchemistmedia.com/" target="_blank">Alchemist Media</a>, a search-engine marketing firm based in Los Angeles that specializes in fraud protection. &#8220;Technology is continuing to be developed that can exploit this pricing model at incredibly high volumes.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Google&#8217;s fraud squad</strong><br />
Google declined an interview for this report, citing the mandatory &#8220;quiet period&#8221; before its initial public offering, which is expected to raise $2.7 billion. But the company said in a statement that it has been &#8220;the target of individuals and entities using some of the most advanced spam techniques for years. We have applied what we have learned with search to the click fraud problem and employ a dedicated team and proprietary technology to analyze clicks.&#8221;</p>
<p>In recent documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company also acknowledged the problem as a threat to its revenue, of which 95 percent is derived from advertising. Google and other search networks provide refunds to advertisers when click fraud has been discovered.</p>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 260px"><a href="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/charts/071904clickfraudfinal.jpg"><img style="border:0 none;margin:5px;" title="The Anatomy of Online Clicks Scam" src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/charts/071904clickfraudfinal.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="250" height="325" align="left" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Anatomy of Online Clicks Scam</p></div>
<p>&#8220;If we are unable to stop this fraudulent activity, these refunds may increase,&#8221; Google said in its SEC filing. &#8220;If we find new evidence of past fraudulent clicks we may have to issue refunds retroactively of amounts previously paid to our Google Network members.&#8221;</p>
<p>Google and Overture employ &#8220;fraud squads,&#8221; or teams of people dedicated to fighting click schemes. But at least two marketing executives say such countermeasures are missing fraudulent clicks that are responsible for between 5 percent and 20 percent of advertising fees paid to all search networks.</p>
<p>Overture spokeswoman Jennifer Stephens refutes that estimate, saying that the numbers likely represent acts of fraud that are ultimately caught. She added that Overture filters most fraudulent clicks with the best antifraud system in the industry, which combines technology and human analysis.</p>
<p>&#8220;We take this very seriously; it&#8217;s the foundation of what we do,&#8221; Stephens said. &#8220;If an advertiser has a question about it, we look into all matters.&#8221;</p>
<p>Cost-per-click advertising comes in many forms, but it essentially lets marketers gain exposure on a Web site and pay only when people click on their ads. Google and Overture let advertisers bid for placement of paid links, which appear when certain keyword searches are conducted on the networks&#8217; sites or those of third parties that partner with them. Keyword ads can also be distributed according to the content of partners&#8217; sites and displayed on non-search pages. (CNET Networks, which publishes News.com, partners with Google for shared advertising revenue.)</p>
<p>Most advertisers are aware of the click-fraud issue but have not delved into it because of the technical complexities involved. Others are concerned that they could jeopardize their relationships with the <a title="The Google gods -- Thursday, Oct 31, 2002" href="http://news.cnet.com/The-Google-gods/2009-1023_3-963618.html">powerful search networks</a> if they complain too loudly.</p>
<p>&#8220;It is a bigger problem, but folks just don&#8217;t want to take the time to track it down because it&#8217;s a complex problem,&#8221; Coremetrics&#8217; Squire said. Given that some of the largest marketers manage up to 1 million keywords in a campaign, he added, the data can be difficult to crunch.</p>
<p>Danny Sullivan, who runs a quarterly search-industry conference, said many advertisers do not raise their concerns with the ad networks because &#8220;they&#8217;re afraid that if they complain, it will hurt their free listings.&#8221;</p>
<p>Still, more fraud-detection technologies are emerging to help advertisers analyze their campaigns and traffic. Some advertisers and search-engine marketing companies say they are compiling lists of sites that generate a high number of clicks but not sales.</p>
<p>Coremetrics, Urchin and Whosclickingwho.com are just a few that sell technology to examine click rates and sales that result from paid searches. Alchemist Media, which charges flat fees for its consulting services, has detected fraud while acting as an intermediary between search networks and marketers.</p>
<p>In general, Alchemist&#8217;s Stricchiola estimates that 10 percent of all search ad clicks could be fraudulent. But she said the rate can reach 20 percent in particular businesses that have been targeted for click fraud.</p>
<p>Roy de Souza, CEO of advertising technology firm Zedo, said his company&#8217;s geotracking systems have traced Internet Protocol addresses to detect click operations in China. In describing one common scheme, he said a legitimate site is duplicated under another name, complete with text ads from a search network. A bot would then be trained to click on the ad links that appear on the bogus site, said de Souza, who estimated that click fraud affects 10 percent to 20 percent of today&#8217;s search network ads.</p>
<p>Many policing technologies can counter click fraud by analyzing Web traffic logs or surfing behavior. If a page is turned every 1.8 seconds over a period of time, for example, fraud-detecting systems will flag the traffic as suspiciously uniform.</p>
<p><strong>Covert clicks</strong><br />
Human operations can be more difficult to detect because a wide network of people can click on ads from different computers across many regions, without a steady pattern. According to a report in the India Times, residents are being hired to click paid links from home, with the hopes of making between $100 to $200 per month.</p>
<p>In other instances, the source of bogus clicks can be much closer to home.</p>
<p>Joe, the chief executive of an Internet marketing company, enjoys clicking on his rivals&#8217; text ads on Google and Yahoo because his competitor must pay as much as $15 each time he does it. Eventually, such phantom clicks can add up and drain a rival&#8217;s budget.</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s an entertainment,&#8221; said the executive, who asked to keep his name and company anonymous. &#8220;Why do you run into a store without dropping a quarter in the meter? You know it&#8217;s wrong, but you do it.&#8221;</p>
<p>Kevin Lee, chief executive of search marketing firm Did-It, estimates that fraud from such &#8220;drive-by&#8221; competitive clicks and affiliate scams makes up about 5 percent of the industry&#8217;s total sales. Lee concedes that he can only guess at the number, but he does know one thing for sure:</p>
<p>If it gets much higher, he said, &#8220;then we should all be getting worried.&#8221;</p>
<p>By  Stefanie Olsen<br />
Staff Writer, CNET News</p>
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<title><![CDATA[U.S. Stocks Extend Global Drop as Dollar Gains, Oil Declines]]></title>
<link>http://nivram9.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/u-s-stocks-extend-global-drop-as-dollar-gains-oil-declines/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:12:49 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Marvin Caldwell-Barr</dc:creator>
<guid>http://nivram9.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/u-s-stocks-extend-global-drop-as-dollar-gains-oil-declines/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) &#8212; U.S. stocks fell, pulling the Dow Jones Industrial Average down from an]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><blockquote><p>Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) &#8212; U.S. stocks fell, pulling the Dow Jones Industrial Average down from an 11-month high, on speculation a six-month rally has outpaced prospects for profit growth. European and Asian shares dropped, while oil and gold retreated as the dollar rose. Treasuries were little changed.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&#38;sid=aG.A_vDBQ0Jo">The stock market</a> reads like a weather barometer. Small fluctuations means nothing much to worry about.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[<a href="http://thinkaloo.com/ideas/view/view_idea.php?id=1697">people who wear crocs...</a>]]></title>
<link>http://thinkaloo.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/people-who-wear-crocs-2/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:53:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>thinkaloo</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thinkaloo.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/people-who-wear-crocs-2/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[they go on and on about how comfortable they are, and how it&#8217;s supposedly odor resistant becau]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>they go on and on about how comfortable they are, and how it&#8217;s supposedly odor resistant because it&#8217;s made out of some kind of <a href="http://thinkaloo.com/search.php?cat=Health&#38;">anti-bacterial foam</a>. great point, dipshits! </p>
<p>you know what else crocs are resistant to? <a href="http://thinkaloo.com/search.php?cat=Sexy%20Ideas&#38;">your getting laid just from the look of your shoes</a>. that&#8217;s right. they are very sex resistant, so if you want your<a href="http://thinkaloo.com/search.php?cat=Lifestyle/Beauty&#38;"> shoes to serve as an excellent idiot barometer</a>, keep wearing them.</p>
<p><a href="http://thinkaloo.com">http://thinkaloo.com</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Women Serve As Barometer For Development - Nana Konadu]]></title>
<link>http://news.xfm951.com/2009/09/09/women-serve-as-barometer-for-development-nana-konadu/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:56:42 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>newshoundjoana</dc:creator>
<guid>http://news.xfm951.com/2009/09/09/women-serve-as-barometer-for-development-nana-konadu/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nana Konadu Rawlings Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Kon]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Nana Konadu Rawlings Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Kon]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Lajbans]]></title>
<link>http://wettexvarlden.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/lajbans/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:13:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wettexvarlden</dc:creator>
<guid>http://wettexvarlden.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/lajbans/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Hela veckan har jag gått runt och trott att nu, NU bryter värsta grisflunsan ut. Ont i kroppen. Svet]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Hela veckan har jag gått runt och trott att nu, NU bryter värsta grisflunsan ut. Ont i kroppen. Svettigt, snorigt, grinigt och allmänt trist.</p>
<p>Men nejdå. Icke. Insåg till slut att min inre barometer har följt den på väggen. Som åkt jojo hela veckan.<br />
Vem behöver SMHI?</p>
<p>Nu vill jag bara lägga mig i en hög och gråta. Gästerna kommer om en timme&#8230;</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Männerspielzeug: Suunto Vector]]></title>
<link>http://theotherface.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/mannerspielzeug-suunto-vector/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:26:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>The Other Face</dc:creator>
<guid>http://theotherface.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/mannerspielzeug-suunto-vector/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Für meine Islandtour hat mir die Firma Bergzeit freundlicher Weise die Multifunktionsuhr Suunto Vect]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Für meine Islandtour hat mir die Firma <a href="http://www.bergzeit.de/" target="_blank">Bergzeit</a> freundlicher Weise die Multifunktionsuhr <a href="http://www.bergzeit.de/suunto.html" target="_blank">Suunto</a> Vector zur Verfügung gestellt. Leider hat es die Post nicht mehr pünktlich geschafft, so dass ich die Uhr erst nach der Reise erhalten habe. Schade, damit steht der erste Praxistest noch aus.</p>
<p><a href="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7916/img7410w.jpg"><img class="alignnone" src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7916/img7410w.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="288" /></a></p>
<p>Die Suunto Vector ist eigentlich der Klassiker unter den Multifunktionsuhren. Sie vereint Uhr, Kompass, Barometer und <a href="http://www.bergzeit.de/hoehenmesser.html" target="_blank">Höhenmesser</a> in einem Gerät. Ich habe mich für die Inverse Variante entschieden. Also umgekehrt dem üblichen Display. Schwarzer Hintergrund mit helle Symbolen. Damit soll die Uhr auch in der Sonne problemlos ablesbar sein, was ich bestätigen kann.</p>
<p><a href="http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9747/img7411.jpg"><img class="alignnone" src="http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9747/img7411.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="288" /></a></p>
<p>Trotz ihrer Funktionsvielfalt wirkt die Suunto nicht klobig, was ich als äußerst angenehm empfinde. Außerdem ist sie mit 55 g angenehm leicht.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Funktionen:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Zeitmessung:</strong> Datum und Zeit, drei Alarme, Stoppuhr und Count-Down-Timer</li>
<li><strong>Höhenmesser:</strong> Höhenmeßbereich (-500 bis +9000 Meter), Auflösung 5 Meter, Geschwindigkeit des Auf- und Abstieges in m/min, Messung von Höhendifferenzen, Automatik-Speicherung während 24 h in 1 Stunden Intervall von absoluter Höhe, Auf- und Abstiegsgeschwindigkeit, Logbuch speichert Gesamtauf- und Abstieg in Meter, durchschnittliche Auf- und Abstiegsgeschwindigkeit, absolvierte Abfahrten sowie Dauer des Logs</li>
<li><strong>Barometer:</strong> Absoluter Luftdruckmeßbereich (300 &#8211; 1100 mbar), Luftdruckbereich Meeresspiegel (921 &#8211; 1080 mbar), Verfolgung und Messung der Luftdruck- und Temperaturunterschiede, Automatischer 4 Tage-Speicher von Luftdruck und Temperatur der letzten 6 Stunden jede Stunde, dann jede 6.Stunde, Möglichkeit den Luftdruck dem Meeresspiegel gemäss anzupassen, Temperaturbereich (-20° bis +60°C)</li>
<li><strong>Elektronischer Kompass:</strong> Abgekürzte Himmelsrichtungen, Nord-Süd Pfeil, Suchen einer bestimmten Kursrichtung sowie die Entfernung zwischen den aktuellen und den gewünschten Kurs, Deklinationskorrektur,L ibelle für eine Kompassablesegenauigkeit von 2 bis 3 Grad</li>
<li><strong>Sonstiges:</strong> Garantie: 24 Monate, Displaybeleuchtung, Wasserdicht bis 30 Meter, Batterieaustausch durch den Benutzer möglich, Gewicht: 55 g, Kunststoffgehäuse mit Elastomer-Armband</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8126/img7414r.jpg"><img class="alignnone" src="http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8126/img7414r.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="288" /></a></p>
<p>Besonders fürs <a href="http://www.bergzeit.de/trekking.html" target="_blank">Trekking</a> ein nettes Spielzeug. <img src='http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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<title><![CDATA[Favre Leuba mechanical barometer watch]]></title>
<link>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/favre-leuba-mechanical-barometer-watch/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:02:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>horologica</dc:creator>
<guid>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/favre-leuba-mechanical-barometer-watch/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[More on this watch: http://www.harrybishop.ca/?p=2112 Image from www.elitewristwatch.com]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p style="text-align:left;">
<p>More on this watch: <a href="http://www.harrybishop.ca/?p=2112">http://www.harrybishop.ca/?p=2112</a></p>
<div id="attachment_75" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-75" title="favre-leuba" src="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/favre-leuba.jpg?w=300" alt="Image from www.elitewristwatch.com" width="300" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Image from www.elitewristwatch.com</p></div>
<p style="text-align:left;">
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<title><![CDATA[Timex Expedition WS4]]></title>
<link>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/timex-expedition-ws4/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:49:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>horologica</dc:creator>
<guid>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/timex-expedition-ws4/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Compass Barometer Altimeter 50 m water resistant Review: Watchuseek forums Review: Watch Report]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><div style="text-align:center;"><img class="alignright" title="Timex WS4" src="http://www.adventuresnw.net/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/timex-ws4-1-245x300.jpg" alt="" width="196" height="240" /></div>
<ul>
<li>Compass</li>
<li>Barometer</li>
<li>Altimeter</li>
<li>50 m water resistant</li>
</ul>
<p>Review: <a href="http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=280663" target="_self">Watchuseek forums</a></p>
<p>Review: <a href="http://www.watchreport.com/2009/03/review-of-the-timex-ws4.html" target="_self">Watch Report</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Seiko Prospex Land Master]]></title>
<link>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/seiko-prospex-land-master/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:23:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>horologica</dc:creator>
<guid>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/seiko-prospex-land-master/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Seiko Prospex Land Master SBCN003 Barometer Altimeter Dual time Alarm Titanium case and bracelet Sou]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><img class="alignright" title="Seiko Prospex" src="http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x224/hendrickchan/SBCN003.jpg" alt="" width="208" height="324" />Seiko Prospex Land Master SBCN003</p>
<ul>
<li>Barometer</li>
<li>Altimeter</li>
<li>Dual time</li>
<li>Alarm</li>
<li>Titanium case and bracelet</li>
</ul>
<p>Source: <a href="http://japwatches.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/seiko-prospex-land-master-sbcn003/" target="_self">Japwatches</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp/">Seiko Japan</a></p>
<p><!--more--><a href="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/sbcn003-big21.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-80" title="sbcn003-big2" src="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/sbcn003-big21.jpg?w=150" alt="sbcn003-big2" width="150" height="109" /></a> <a href="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/sbcn003-big3.jpg?w=150"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-79" title="sbcn003-big3" src="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/sbcn003-big3.jpg?w=150" alt="sbcn003-big3" width="150" height="104" /></a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Origo Peak]]></title>
<link>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/origo-peak/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:02:37 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>horologica</dc:creator>
<guid>http://horologica.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/origo-peak/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Compass (adjustable declination) Barometer Altimeter Chronograph Timer Review: Backpacking Light Ori]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><img class="size-full wp-image-4 alignright" title="origo-rendezvous-peak-1" src="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/origo-rendezvous-peak-1.jpg" alt="origo-rendezvous-peak-1" width="240" height="240" /></p>
<ul>
<li>Compass (adjustable declination)</li>
<li>Barometer</li>
<li>Altimeter</li>
<li>Chronograph</li>
<li>Timer</li>
</ul>
<p>Review: <a href="http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/origo_rendezvous_peak_multi_function_watch_review.html" target="_self">Backpacking Light</a><br />
<!--more--></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13" title="Origo Granite Peak" src="http://horologica.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/origo_grntpkstnlsstd.jpg" alt="Origo Granite Peak" width="500" height="500" />Origo Granite Peak</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Bundestagswahl und Wahlbarometer]]></title>
<link>http://traumfaenger.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/bundestagswahl/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:47:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>traumfaenger</dc:creator>
<guid>http://traumfaenger.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/bundestagswahl/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Neue Formen der Wahlanalyse… Der Spiegel der Gesellschaft: Quelle: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deu]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p style="text-align:center;">Neue Formen der Wahlanalyse…</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<div id="attachment_639" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-639" title="Bundestagswahl" src="http://traumfaenger.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/bundetagswahl4.png?w=300" alt="Der Spiegel der Gesellschaft: Quelle: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,623633,00.html" width="300" height="224" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Der Spiegel der Gesellschaft: Quelle: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,623633,00.html</p></div>
<p style="text-align:center;">oder</p>
<div id="attachment_623" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-623" title="Bundestagswahl" src="http://traumfaenger.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/bundestagswahl3.png?w=300" alt="Das Tortenmodell - lecker! Quelle http://www.bpb.de/fsd/werwaehltwas/bpp1s0" width="300" height="170" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Das Tortenmodell - lecker! Quelle http://www.bpb.de/fsd/werwaehltwas/bpp1s0</p></div>
<p style="text-align:center;">oder</p>
<div id="attachment_616" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-616" title="Bundestagswahl - Wahlbarometer mal anders" src="http://traumfaenger.wordpress.com/files/2009/08/bundetagswahl.png?w=300" alt="Xing machts möglich: Piraten – Quelle: http://wahl.xing.com/wahlbarometer/aktuelle-woche" width="300" height="176" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Xing machts möglich: Piraten – Quelle: http://wahl.xing.com/wahlbarometer/aktuelle-woche</p></div>
<p style="text-align:center;">Wie hättet Ihr’s denn gern?</p>
<p>Heiße Diskussionen findet Ihr zu den Piraten bei <a href="http://www.laut.de/vorlaut/news/2009/08/06/22684/" target="_blank">laut.de</a>, auf der <a href="http://www.tagesschau.de/bundestagswahl/" target="_blank">Tageschau-online</a>, <a href="http://www.politische-bildung.de/bundestagswahl_2009_umfragen.html" target="_blank">hier</a>, und und und  …..</p>
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