unexpected results

Countries with Higher Per-Capita GDPs than the US

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:55:07 -0500

Since Mitt Romney asked the question, here are the countries that have a higher GDP per capita than the US (plus a few that are close.)

Monaco 186,175

Liechtenstein 134,392

Luxembourg 108,706

Bermuda 101,346

Norway 78,674

Qatar 2009 69,754

Switzerland 65,003

British Virgin Islands 57,626

Denmark 2009 56,687

Cayman Islands 54,827

United Arab Emirates 54,138

San Marino 2009 54,104

Ireland 49,115

Netherlands 47,889

Australia 47,615

Austria 45,563

United States 44,872

Finland 44,688

Belgium 44,254

Sweden 43,903

Andorra 43,770

France 41,226

Germany 40,528

Japan 39,864

Canada 39,795

Source: United Nations Statistics Division

Happy New Year from the Future!

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:55:35 -0500

Why I'm Quitting Facebook

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:49:35 -0500

Today I announced on my Facebook account that I will be deleting my account from the service at a date in the near future. I’m not doing this as part of any larger statement or campaign; I’m simply no longer interested in maintaining my account.

Since everything on the internet requires a list, I’m including mine:

I Don’t Use It. The most important reason for me to quit using Facebook is that I simply don’t use it. When it first came out, Facebook was a nice way to keep tabs on my friends without having to do much. Now, the information stream is overloaded. Sure Facebook has tried to improve the process, but it’s also working to keep eyeballs on the screen for as long as possible. I don’t have the energy for that.
I Do Use Complementary Technology. The other social networks I use are more suited to my personality and lifestyle.
- Twitter represents more of a public converstation or a snapshot of the world as it is now; it’s a good way to snag a quick update without a long-term commitment to what’s been going on.
- Google+ is more streamlined than Facebook, and it allows me to better control more long-term postings. Plus, it has a nerdier/tech bent to it, which is more of what I’m looking for. Also, it integrates with all the technology I’m already using.
- Tumblr (this site) is for my long-form communications. I’m not always the best at writing updates, but it is the most flexible platform I have.
I Don’t Like It. In much the same way that AOL build a walled “internet” for the computer illiterates, Facebook works too hard to control how you interact with it. Given the size and scope, it seems to be attracting a “lowest common denominator” aspect that I find off-putting.
It’s Only Going to Get Worse. For years now, FB has made headlines regarding its bad privacy policy changes, arrogant CEO, and other forms of negative press. With the prospect of an IPO a big possibility and the peverse incentive of FB to act in the short-term interests of its investors instead of being responsible to its customers likely, the situation will only get worse with time.
I Need a Fresh Start. Facebook has a “notch-in-the-headboard” vibe to it; there is so much emphasis on acquiring more and more friends. Of the 228 “friends” I have on FB, I think I’ve spoken to about a dozen of them in the last year. Maybe it’s just because I’m anti-social, but it is all the more reason to pare down my list of contacts.

In a nutshell, I need to simplify my online presence. Given the relative strengths of the other sites, something had to go. Facebook just happened to be it.

Armistice Day

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:15:06 -0500

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

“In Flanders Fields”, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

Polls and Statistics

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:06:33 -0500

The problem with statistics and polling in politics is that people put too much faith in small samples.

What I've Learned in Two Months in Afghanisan

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:55:50 -0400

A few things I’ve picked up after spending two months in Afghanistan.

Deployment is really 50% Stripes, 50% Groundhog Day.
Trucks were not meant to hold up a lot of the equipment the US Army fields. There’s a lot of money to be made if it could.
Dust+water=wet dust
The best day to test bandwidth is Monday morning.

A Better Solution to my Internet Problems

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:49:06 -0400

A Better Solution to my Internet Problems:

Turns out, good old RFC1149 is a good solution for internet in a combat zone. That’s what I’m proposing at least.

The Tragedy of Lost Technologies

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:18:27 -0400

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a strong nostalgia for old computer technologies. Old hardware, old software, or old ideas, they all appeal to me for some strange reason. Even now, I spend time becoming proficient using software or tools that were obsolete 20 years ago. For me, the value is not in the ability to utilize this skills in my career but to appreciate the evolution of current technology and learn more about how things used to be done.

What I’ve come to realize about a lot of the early computer science innovations is that they were making the absolute most out of a very limited set of resources. At the dawn of the computer age, every little bit counted. As a result, a lot of very, very clever programmers were able to develop some very, very clever technologies. Memory was prohibitively expensive, so programmers learned to get by using very little memory and reusing it where they could. We would not have the IT we have today if not for the creativity these early engineers had to use.

Now that I’m deployed, I’m starting to see some value in a number of these old techs. I run a tactical communications network, so I know just how precious bandwidth can be. Every megabit of bandwidth I can offer comes not only at great financial expense but is a precious resource that must be shared. My systems are designed to absolutely push every last ounce of information out of my tubes.

While the current generation of commercial and consumer IT technology is quite impressive, it is not nearly as impressive as some of this early tech. Waste, like everything else in the US, is the norm. Because the costs have come down on computing resources, there is no longer the impetus to write tight, efficient code. In my opinion, this lack of focus is not only waste of resources but the root cause of our computing security problems.

Silicon Valley hot-shots quite often forget that for most of the world, especially the developing world, broadband technology is not ubiquitous or cheap. For those communities that have only begun to utilize computers and the internet, scarcity is still the order of the day. To get megabytes of data is a challenge for many markets, and the terabytes of traffic Americans consume every day is simply unfathomable.

We would be well served to revert back to these old ways. Information efficiency, like energy efficiency, is not necessarily about getting less; it’s about getting more out of a precious, finite resource.

Deployment: Second Month Begins

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:12:18 -0400

I’ve been away from home for 31 days now. As I begin my second month in Afghanistan, I feel I’m starting to get the hang of this place. I’m learning my job, I’m getting to know people, and I’m confident I’ll do well here.

The positive:

Excellent soldiers
Helpful colleagues and superiors
The heat is starting to break (~90° every day, instead of 100°+)

The negative:

Missing my family
It’s Groundhog Day here
The food is repetitive
All my water comes from a bottle

Still, everything’s going along smoothly.

Quote of the day: “There’s no curry today. That’s okay, though. Curry for you everyday is no good.” — The DFAC server who knows me as “that soldier who eats curry every meal”

Three Weeks In

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:38:31 -0400

I’ve been deployed for about three weeks now, with about two weeks in Afghanistan Ever so slowly, I’m starting to get into my stride. There certainly has been a lot of adjustment for me, but I think the biggest change is not being wired up 24/7 (broadband internet, iPhone, etc.) It’s easy to forget how nice things are back in the US. Small comforts from home and the little luxuries go a long way. In this environment, even the smallest tasks take time and coordination.

What makes this all worthwhile are the people. I’ve gotten to work with some of the best soldiers in the world under some of the worst conditions imaginable. I certainly can’t say that 100% of people are performing to what they need to be, but the vast majority are going far beyond what should be expected of them, and I’m very lucky to work with them, work for them, or have them work for me.

I’m going to be here a while, but I think I’m going to get a lot out of this tour.

Hockey night in Kandahar. Those Canadian’s have their...

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:32:14 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Hockey night in Kandahar. Those Canadian’s have their priorities straight.

War zone graffiti: impressive quality, but there are too many...

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:40:05 -0400

War zone graffiti: impressive quality, but there are too many soldiers with too much time on their hands.

Cultural Hoarding

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:20:05 -0400

What’s the point of trying to archive our entire culture? That is, every book, every song, every objet d’art ? After all, it seems to be contrary to our natural instinct to create new works.

In the same way that honeybees decide what is the best site for a new hive, society and sub-cultures at large will, through its collective action, will determine the most valuable examples of art. Inferior works will fade away because they are just that. The most valuable works will remain, even if only as derivative works.

Simply put, if we try to preserve everything, we will drown in our own detritus.

I love that, in the middle of the arid climate that is Kandahar,...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:22:50 -0400

I love that, in the middle of the arid climate that is Kandahar, the Canadians thought to build a hockey rink. For the record, the temperature here in Kandahar today was 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Let's Go! Afghanistan

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:20:21 -0400

First impressions of Afghanistan:

It’s really dusty here. Not sure if that’s from the US or just how it is.
Kandahar Air Field smells. I’m 100% certain that’s from us.
It’s hot. I’m 100% certain that’s how it is.

Look at me…homeowner!

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:20:13 -0400

Look at me…homeowner!

The Absurdity of the Balanced Budget Argument

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:40:06 -0400

One of the central points of contention during the recent debt ceiling argument was the instance that a “balanced budget” amendment be part of any deal. Advocates like to equate the budget of the United States to households, arguing that if individuals cannot spend beyond their means, the government shouldn’t be able to either. This argument is not only absurd, it represents a gross misunderstanding of how economies work.

Debt is an essential element of our economic system and of free market economics. Banks, despite their recent unethical and destructive practices, serve a central function in that system: to facilitate the movement of capital to meet demand for growth and development. Debt is a daily occurrence for everyone, individuals included. Debt is what allows the expansion into areas that would not otherwise be attainable, from the planting of crops to higher education to homeownership.

If one were to equate the government of the United States with anything, it would be to argue that the United States is more like a corporation. Corporate debt, euphemistically called “leverage”, is a standard part of corporate growth and development. Commercial paper, bonds, and other debt issuance are freely traded on open exchanges, and the proceeds from the sale of such debt allows companies to purchase new equipment, expand their offices, and enable any number of new projects. Advocates for balanced budgets with governmental spending make no such argument for corporations to do the same.

Debt becomes a problem when it is unsustainable. Too much borrowing is a problem when tax revenues do not allow states to meet their obligations. Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are all facing this problem. The US, however, has no such risk of default. The focus should be to use the power of the purse to help even out the business cycle.

The federal government is in a unique position in the economy. It is the largest actor in the economy, and as such has the most influence over the direction of the economy. During the good times, tax policy should be to run a surplus, pay down debts, and build a nest egg for when times are lean. Current US policy, however, is counter to this; we cut taxes at the peak of the business cycle, leaving the government with few options to help with any recovery effort.

The debt ceiling deal that was reached did not include such an amendment. It also failed to include another key provision: tax reform. Our tax system is significantly regressive; we ask the least able among us to contribute far too much. There are a number of solutions to this problem, such as value-added taxes, higher capital gains taxes, and other taxes that are based on consumption. For to extend our household analogy for a minute, if you are having a difficult time making ends meet, it might be time to get a second job.

Imbalanced Approach

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:21:05 -0400

One of the more peculiar arguments in the United States and other developed nations is the conflict between free market economics and immigration policy. The people who advocate for deregulating markets and free trade agreements are often the same people who argue for strict immigration policies and tight border controls. The problem here is that the two ideas are in opposition to one another.

Free trade can really be broken down into three distinct categories: free movement of goods (trade), free movement of capital (means of production), and free movement of labor (producers). For the last 60 years, the world has focused on both the movement of goods and the movement of capital across borders. As a result, the global economy has grown exponentially. States that were struggling are now developing rapidly and experiencing the social and cultural benefits the West has seen for generations.

Missing from this discussion is the free movement of labor. In much the same way that free movement of goods lowers prices, the free movement of labor, by increasing the available supply of labor, will depress wages, at least initially. As labor can freely move the globe, demand for certain skills or jobs in one area will be filled more efficiently. Having more ready access to labor will also permit the creation of new jobs that would otherwise be inhibited from forming due to cost concerns. Ultimately, the free market will be able to operate more efficiently across what would become borders that are increasingly less significant.

While there are a number of basic humanitarian reasons for opening borders to the movement of people, the economic arguments should not be ignored. The free markets cannot truly function if there are significant distortions to the model. By not allowing labor to balance out the movement of capital and goods, inefficiencies grow in the market until, ultimately, they collapse.

The idea of the movement of labor, however, is strongly at odds with the xenophobia that has pervaded civilization for millennia. The drive to keep out immigrants in the developed world is as much a racial issue as anything else. Perhaps it is the influx of new ideas and of an unfamiliar culture, or perhaps it is the increase in language diversity. Whatever the source of conflict, fear of outsiders stokes anger, desire and other hostility towards foreigners, especially from those on the right side of the spectrum. Whatever the source, the result is the same: preventing the movement of labor creates bad economic policy.

As we have seen, businesses will move to where the labor is. Not allowing labor to move to here, where business is, only hurts the economic growth of the United States.

Why the US is falling behind in education

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:40:05 -0400

How does the United States stack up against the world when it comes to educating the next generation? Poorly, if the media are to be believed. Report after report shows that the US is lagging further behind in science and mathematics. As our students learn less and less, it should come as no surprise that our economy continues to be anemic. Without considerable reform, our students will only become less and less educated.

The solution, of course, is not to treat education as a “product” to be created but as a set of tools to be mastered.

If the US is to gain ground in education and learning, we first need to stop thinking of education as a commodity. What the MBA approach to teaching — an approach that believes student performance is something to be quantified into sterile metrics — ignores is that the product of education is simply to impart a toolset onto the students; the current trend seems to be to figure out some sort of “widget” that can be quantified, measured, and replicated from system to system. Education, however, does not boil down to known facts and figures. Students need to be able to problem-solve, to express themselves clearly, and be prepared to join our great society as willing and able participants. Education covers a broad spectrum that is not always captured by standardized tests.

Also necessary for reform, and akin to the corporate-style approach to education, is a change in the attitudes towards higher education. Not everyone is destined or suited for a traditional four-year university. The goal for college, again, should be to learn a toolset that will serve the undergraduate as he moves into the world, not simply to obtain a diploma. Current emphasis seems to be that America’s youth need to attend college to earn a credential or some specific knowledge, not to be educated. This attitude has lead to a glut of bad university curricula, diploma mills, and other undesirable systems.

In addition, there needs to be more of an emphasis in educating the industrial workers of our country. The stigma of vocational schools in this country, however, is strong; they are often seen as inferior to four-year universities. While in practice this may be true, this need not be the case. In the same way that providing our knowledge economy workers with analytical tools to be more creative and capable of doing more sophisticated tasks, so to will providing our blue-collar workers with the tools necessary to compete in an increasingly growing global labor supply. This will lead to an expansion of the highly-skilled manufacturing jobs that bring wealth to nations like Germany, who have for generations lead the world in technical skill and prowess.

China is discovering that a test-based education system, with a focus on what the students are learning not on teaching students to think, is having significant repercussions. While these students are able to meet the predetermined benchmarks of the educational system, they are wholly unprepared to actual participate in the workforce or society at large. If the US continues to emphasize these artificial goals instead of nurturing our creative potential, our time as the global leader is over.

Sensible Litigation Reform

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:10:05 -0400

Last week’s “This American Life” addressed the question of patent trolls, profiling the company Intellectual Ventures, a company that is arguably one of the largest patent trolls in the United States. What caught my ear on itself, I started thinking that the problem is not only with the patent system, but with the American legal system writ large.

While I have no doubt that the US patent system is in desperate need of reform, the problem is compounded by the mechanics of our civil litigation system. As it stands now, there are very few penalties for filing law suits where the plaintiff does not expect or intend to prevail. In some cases, where the cases proceed through trial, there can be some fee-shifting should the plaintiff not prevail, most harassing suits do not advance beyond the initial stages of litigation; if the defendants have sufficient resources, the plaintiffs generally back down. This is also a problem with First Amendment SLAAP suits, lawsuits where the purpose is to stifle speech.

My solution to the problem would be to change the rule of civil procedure to require that the loser of litigation, plaintiff or defendant, pays the court costs, legal fees, and potentially punitive damages. The idea here is plaintiffs will not bring an action unless they have reasonable certainty that they will prevail on the merits.

Changing to a “loser pays” system could substantially change the incentives for bringing certain forms of action, principally cases where the litigant is looking to extract a quick settlement rather than to collect the damages sought in the filing. If these litigation trolls must now pay defendants instead of collecting a quick settlement, they lose the incentive to file mass lawsuits in the hopes of making a quick buck.

Certainly, a loser pays system is not the panacea needed to impose equal justice through legal procedure. Potential plaintiffs might still be dissuaded from from filing suit from the onset because of the potential of having to pay if they do not prevail. An even more perverse problem could be a requirement of a bond filing as a condition precedent for filing a case at all. These problems can be mitigated, however, by permitting the presiding judge discretion as to the amount, if any, of any fee shifting or bond requirements.

I also would predict a substantial increase in both the number of legal malpractice cases as well as malpractice insurance premiums. This may not be such a bad thing, though; it could dissuade less than reputable attorneys from engaging in “frivolous” lawsuits. Attorneys who are on the hook for damages tend to be fairly conservative, after all.

I recognize that there will always be plaintiffs who have such deep pockets that they may not be dissuaded from pursuing such actions. I also understand that there will likely be venues that are less welcoming to the idea of awarding fee shifting damages. Regardless, I think the benefits this form of damage award would bring far outweighs the potential for loss. The benefits would not just apply to patents, after all; copyright cases and defamation cases are both, under the present system, ripe for abuse. Raising the risks of litigation for plaintiffs should go a long way to curtailing this unfair and unethical litigation practice.