The Locus of Power in Today’s World

What are the largest, most powerful entities in the world? Transnational Institute has published a report, State of Power: 2013, that contains some interesting statistics, among them the fact that forty of the world’s biggest economies are corporations, and less than one percent of the companies, mostly banks, control 40% of all corporate shares. Read the full report here.

Save a life–new CPR is easier and more effective

Doctors at the University of Arizona have developed a better approach to saving lives. It’s called Continuous Chest Compression CPR. It is reportedly easier and more effective than traditional CPR. Watch this short video.

Words to live by?

What is your life motto?

• You are the main character of your story. Act like it.
• Everything in moderation, even moderation.
• Change is the nature of the universe.
• It’s better to laugh about it than cry about it.
• The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.
• The meaning of life is to give life meaning.
• Acquire experiences, not objects.
• Accept what you can’t change, change what you can’t accept.
• Always leave a party while you’re still having fun.
• If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.
• The only constant is change.
• Live and let live.
• In the end, it will be ok.  If things aren’t OK, then it isn’t the end.
• So far so good.

Maps of the 2012 US presidential election results

This site provides some interesting ways of looking at the results of the 2012 presidential election. Click here.

An amazing performance

Just for fun, entertainment, and inspiration, watch this video. Talent +++

How to handle the high cost of higer education?

The cost of a college education has been rising steeply in recent years, but there are low cost alternative routes to a degree. One resource for finding them is Cheap Online Colleges.

Letter from a REDNECK FARM KID in the Marine Corps

Here’s an amusing story from an anonymous source, probably not a Marine…

Letter from a REDNECK FARM KID in the Marine Corps

Dear Ma and Pa,

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the

Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to

join up quick before all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you get to stay in bed till nearly 6

a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all

you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No

hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay.

Practically nothing.

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there’s warm water. Breakfast

is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc.,

but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie

and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by

the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds

you until noon when you get fed again. It’s no wonder these city boys

can’t walk much.

We go on ‘route marches,’ which the platoon sergeant says are long

walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it’s not my place to tell him

different. A ‘route march’ is about as far as to our mailbox at home.

Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is

like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown.

They don’t bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting

medals for shooting. I don’t know why.. The bulls-eye is near as big

as a chipmunk head and don’t move, and it ain’t shooting at you like

the Higgett boys at home. Al l you got to do is lie there all

comfortable and hit it. You don’t even load your own cartridges They

come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to

wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they

break real easy. It ain’t like fighting with that ole bull at home.

I’m about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from

over in Silver Lake .. I only beat him once… He joined up the same

time as me, but I’m only 5’6′ and 130 pounds and he’s 6’8′ and near

300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers

get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter,

Alice

Bugger The Bankers

Here’s a witty little ditty from over the sea that you might appreciate too.

Groundhog Day and the State of the Union

This year, 2013, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address will occur on the same day.

This is an ironic turn of events. One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to an insignificant creature of little intelligence for guidance…

The other involves a groundhog. — anonymous

Searching for Sugar Man: a must-see film.

I just last evening went to the theater to see Searching for Sugar Man, a most remarkable film with a most remarkable story. I give it my HIGHEST rating and encourage everyone to see it. Find reviews and trailers at http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/searching_for_sugar_man/