[Quote]:

Then I got to thinking, what if I were the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) or the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)? How would I handle the theft of my iPod and the advice from the police on how to avoid future break ins? Rather differently, as I explain below . . . .

[Quote]:

“Personalization” is another word for discrimination. We’re not discriminating if we tailor things to you based on what we know about you — right? That’s just better service.

In one case, American Express used purchase history to adjust credit limits based on where a customer shopped, despite his excellent credit limit:

Johnson says his jaw dropped when he read one of the reasons American Express gave for lowering his credit limit: “Other customers who have used their card at establishments where you recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American Express.”

We’re seeing the start of this slippery slope everywhere from tailored credit-card limits like this one to car insurance based on driver profiles. In this regard, big data is a civil rights issue, but it’s one that society in general is ill-equipped to deal with.

[Quote]:

What would it be like to fly through the universe?

Possibly the best simulated video of this yet has been composed from recently-released galaxy data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Every spot in the above video is a galaxy containing billions of stars. Many galaxies are part of huge clusters, long filaments, or small groups, while expansive voids nearly absent of galaxies also exist. The movie starts by flying right through a large nearby cluster of galaxies and later circles the SDSS-captured universe at about 2 billion light years (a redshift of about 0.15) from Earth. Analyses of galaxy positions and movements continues to bolster the case that our universe contains not only the bright matter seen, like galaxies, but also a significant amount of unseen dark matter and dark energy.

[Quote]:

Now that Mitt Romney has chosen Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, Ryan’s long history as a culture warrior is getting a fresh look. Women’s groups have already honed in on his extreme anti-abortion record, which consistently has earned him a 100 percent voting approval rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

What isn’t so well known about Ryan’s record, though, is that one piece of legislation he supported is so extreme that it would have turned Romney’s children into criminals.

[..]

As campaign issues go, this one couldn’t present a starker contrast. The supposedly pro-life GOP candidates want to turn infertile couples into criminals for trying to have a baby. The Democrats want to help them pay for it.

[Quote]:

Ray Capuana paces the rows of cubicles in a haggard high-rise a stone’s throw from Wall Street as his people hustle the phones and hope for a bonus check.

His employees are not bond traders, though. They are call center workers. Many are African Americans without college degrees. Some lack high school diplomas. They work for a Mumbai-based company called Aegis Communications.

India’s outsourcing giants — faced with rising wages at home — have looked for growth opportunities in the United States. But with Washington crimping visas for visiting Indian workers, some companies such as Aegis are slowly hiring workers in North America, where their largest corporate customers are based. In this evolution, outsourcing has come home.

[Quote]:

In short, Mr. Ryan’s plan is devoid of credible math or hard policy choices. And it couldn’t pass even if Republicans were to take the presidency and both houses of Congress. Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan have no plan to take on Wall Street, the Fed, the military-industrial complex, social insurance or the nation’s fiscal calamity and no plan to revive capitalist prosperity — just empty sermons.

David A. Stockman, the director of the Office of Management and Budget under Reagan

[Quote]:

Now that the Republican ticket has been firmed up with the addition of Paul Ryan, the spotlight has fallen on the vice-presidential hopeful’s congressional record. A searchlight may be more appropriate, though. You have to look pretty hard to find anything Ryan’s actually accomplished. In his 13 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Paul Ryan has produced 2 laws, one completely inconsequential, and one that saved him some pocket money on his hobby:

1. In 2000, Paul Ryan passed a law that that changed the name of the post office in Janesville WI. The post office is now called the Les Aspin Post Office Building.
2. In 2008 (Or 4 election cycles later) Ryan introduced a bill that changed the way arrows used in bow hunting are taxed. From HuffPo, “Specifically, his bill amended the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 39-cent tax per arrow shaft, instead of a 12.4 percent tax on the sales price. The bill also includes points suitable for use with arrows in the 11 percent excise tax on arrow parts and accessories.” Ryan, an avid bow-hunter basically wrote a piece of legislation into the tax code, that would save him and his buddies from having to pay sales tax. Arrows average anywhere from $35 to $185 dollars.

That’s it. That’s all of it, except for voting the party line (including the repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act, that even bankers now admit irreparably damaged the economy). His claim to fame is a 2008 budget proposal, that could have started out as book report on Ayn Rand, but was adopted and promoted by the powers that control the Republican party. It’s been described as, “A Mistake of Historic Proportions.” even by conservative friendly Forbes magazine.

And here's a list of every bill he sponsored:

H.R. 3521: Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2012

H.R. 5652: Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012

H.R. 4966: Sequester Replacement Act of 2012

H.Con.Res. 112: Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022.

H.Con.Res. 34: Establishing the budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021.

H.Res. 302: Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2011, as Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Day, and for other purposes.

H.Res. 126: Providing amounts for the expenses of the Committee on the Budget in the One Hundred Twelfth Congress.

H.R. 5394 (108th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the taxation of arrow components.

H.R. 6194 (109th): To reduce temporarily the duty on bath and shower cleaning appliances.

H.R. 7038 (110th): Health Care Services Commission Act

H.R. 5282 (106th): Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Services Quality Improvement Demonstration Act of 2000

H.R. 5873 (111th): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the “Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office”.

H.R. 5259 (107th): Budget Fraud Elimination Act of 2002

H.R. 4901 (108th): National Enterprise Zone Act of 2004

H.R. 4851 (108th): Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2004

H.R. 4818 (106th): International Monetary Stability Act of 2000

H.R. 4809 (108th): Investment Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2004

H.R. 4241 (106th): To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville, Wisconsin, as the “Les Aspin Post Office Building”.

H.R. 5743 (109th): HSA Improvement and Expansion Act of 2006

H.R. 5706 (109th): To amend part D of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide for the pass through of all child support collected on behalf of families receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for ne

H.R. 4890 (109th): Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006

H.R. 5559 (109th): Independent Health Record Bank Act of 2006

H.R. 4547 (106th): Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Services Quality Improvement Act of 2000

H.R. 6110 (110th): Roadmap for America’s Future Act of 2008

H.R. 6053 (110th): Price Stability Act of 2008

H.R. 5995 (110th): Gas Tax Relief and Earmark Moratorium Act of 2008

H.R. 5124 (109th): Fuel Blend Reduction Act of 2006

H.R. 4529 (111th): Roadmap for America’s Future Act of 2010

H.R. 3596 (107th): To amend the Clean Air Act requirements relating to gasoline to prevent future supply shortages and price spikes in the gasoline market, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3652 (108th): Archery Revenue Reform and Opportunity for Workers Act

H.R. 4295 (110th): Reforming an Entitlement through Premium Adjustments based on Income Resources (REPAIR) Act of 2007

H.R. 3493 (106th): International Monetary Stability Act of 2000

H.R. 3818 (110th): Taxpayer Choice Act of 2007

H.R. 3039 (107th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce the maximum capital gains rate from 20 percent to 15 percent.

H.R. 3246 (108th): Mobile Machinery Tax Fairness Act

H.R. 3370 (110th): Medicare Quality Enhancement Act of 2007

H.R. 3599 (109th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify the calculation of the reserve allowance for medical benefits of plans sponsored by bona fide associations.

H.R. 3429 (111th): Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding Act of 2009

H.R. 2617 (107th): International Monetary Stability Act of 2001

H.R. 2327 (107th): To repeal the sunset of the provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.

H.R. 3098 (109th): Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act of 2005

H.R. 2293 (107th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a temporary reduction in the maximum capital gains rate from 20 percent to 15 percent.

H.R. 2796 (110th): Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding Act of 2007

H.R. 2952 (109th): American Veterans Homeownership Act of 2005

H.R. 2067 (106th): Military Personnel Home of Record Act of 1999

H.R. 2556 (109th): To suspend temporarily the duty on air freshener electric devices with warmer units.

H.R. 2557 (109th): To suspend temporarily the duty on air freshener electric devices.

H.R. 2520 (111th): Patients’ Choice Act

H.R. 2121 (109th): Generate Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding Act of 2005

H.R. 1989 (108th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals to defer recognition of reinvested capital gains distributions from regulated investment companies.

H.R. 2015 (109th): To suspend temporarily the duty on certain machines for use in the assembly of motorcycle wheels.

H.R. 1998 (110th): Congressional Accountability and Line-Item Veto Act of 2007

H.R. 1776 (109th): Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2005

H.R. 1548 (109th): Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2005

H.R. 1532 (109th): Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2005

H.R. 1510 (107th): Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Services Quality Improvement Act of 2001

H.R. 1523 (108th): Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003

H.R. 1336 (108th): To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance, and for other purposes.

H.R. 1250 (108th): Former Insurance Agents Tax Equity Act of 2003

H.R. 1202 (109th): To suspend temporarily the duty on unidirectional (cardioid) electret condenser microphone modules for use in motor vehicles.

H.R. 1016 (106th): Budget Surplus Accountability Act

H.R. 1294 (111th): Congressional Accountability and Line-Item Veto Act of 2009

H.R. 1020 (108th): To amend the Clean Air Act requirements relating to gasoline to prevent future supply shortages and price spikes in the gasoline market, and for other purposes.

H.J.Res. 32 (106th): Social Security Guarantee Initiative

H.R. 914 (110th): Tax Equity and Affordability Act of 2007

H.R. 896 (110th): To amend part D of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide for the pass through of all child support collected on behalf of families receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for nee

H.Res. 203 (106th): Acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as firefighters.

H.Con.Res. 109 (110th): Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.

H.R. 782 (111th): Taxpayer Choice Act of 2009

H.R. 689 (110th): Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2007

H.Res. 98 (106th): Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that concurrent resolutions on the budget not carry an estimated deficit for the budget year or for any outyear.

H.Res. 151 (111th): Honoring the life and expressing condolences of the House of Representatives on the passing of Paul M. Weyrich.

H.Res. 48 (106th): Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress and the President should undertake the Social Security Guarantee Initiative to strengthen and protect the retirement income security of all Americans through the cre

H.R. 178 (108th): Double Taxation Elimination and Economic Growth Act of 2003

H.R. 180 (108th): Budget Fraud Elimination Act of 2003

[Quote]:

If you are insured by Progressive, and they owe you money, they will defend your killer in court in order to not pay you your policy.

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1. White terrorists are called “gunmen.” What does that even mean? A person with a gun? Wouldn’t that be, like, everyone in the US? Other terrorists are called, like, “terrorists.”

2. White terrorists are “troubled loners.” Other terrorists are always suspected of being part of a global plot, even when they are obviously troubled loners.

3. Doing a study on the danger of white terrorists at the Department of Homeland Security will get you sidelined by angry white Congressmen. Doing studies on other kinds of terrorists is a guaranteed promotion.

[Quote]:

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will try to unload its massive vacation home on the Ventnor, N.J., beachfront, assessed at $6.2 million, at a Sept. 15 auction, church and real estate officials said Monday.

“They really want to get it sold,” said Bob Dann of Max Spann Real Estate & Auction Co., who is handling the listing of the 19-room Villa St. Joseph by the Sea.

The house, on a block-long property that runs 175 feet along the Boardwalk from Princeton to Portland Avenues, was used until this summer as a getaway for retired priests and high-ranking archdiocese officials.

The archdiocese’s urgent need to address its $17 million deficit and mounting legal bills, including $11 million from the latest grand jury investigation into clergy sex-abuse and criminal prosecution of Msgr. William J. Lynn, was underscored Monday by the announcement that two other church properties also would be put up for sale.

[..]

In a newsletter to church members this spring, Chaput said the archdiocese had spent $11 million on legal fees and other costs related to the latest grand jury investigation into clergy sex-abuse and criminal prosecution of Lynn, the former aide to Bevilacqua. Nearly a dozen lawsuits from alleged abuse victims are pending against the archdiocese, and more are expected. All seek damages.