Man Arrested on Amtrack Train After Alleged Threat - NYTimes.com

Man Arrested on Amtrack Train After Alleged Threat - NYTimes.com

While it's not illegal to do any of the things he's done, it's really not wise. Like walking naked through a bad neighborhood at three in the morning with twenty dollar bills stuck to your body. You're asking for trouble.


LA JUNTA, Colo. (AP) -- An Amtrak passenger who alarmed fellow passengers by talking about terrorist threats on a cell phone was pulled from the train and is being held in Colorado.

Ojore Nuru Lutalo, 64, was arrested Tuesday on an Amtrak passage from Los Angeles to Chicago. Passengers on the train alerted authorities after hearing the man from Elizabeth, N.J., mention al-Qaida and make threats in a cell phone conversation.

Police said in an affidavit that passengers overheard Lutalo saying he hadn't killed anyone yet and talking about going to jail.

Passengers say the man said, ''We have to work in small groups. They can hold you for 18 months. Do they have security on these trains? Are you with me or not?''

One passenger said he heard Lutalo mention al-Qaida, saying, ''17th century tactics won't work, we have 21st century tactics.''

The conductor said Lutalo had a tan blanket over his entire body so the conductor could not see what he was doing.

Lutalo was taken into custody at the La Junta train station in southeastern Colorado. Police said he was not armed or carrying explosives. He was carrying propaganda for an anarchist group called Afrikan Liberation Army.

Lutalo is being held in lieu of bond in Otero County.

Emotional Brain versus Rational Brain


I forget where I read this, but I really liked it.

The emotional brain is an elephant. The rational brain is the person riding the elephant.

If things are okay, the person can guide the elephant; however, if the elephant gets spooked, the elephant is in charge.

Amen!

Focus on Spending More Time, Not Money, on Things You Enjoy [Saving Money]

Good advice! I'd love a comfy reading chair and lamp. Right now I have to use my bed and it's not very good for reading.

Focus on Spending More Time, Not Money, on Things You Enjoy [Saving Money]: "

As we prioritize the things that are important to us, you'd think the things we spend the most money on would get the bulk of our attention. That's often not the case, and recognizing this is a step toward serious savings.

Photo by gerlos.


Trent, the personal finance blogger over at The Simple Dollar, says one way to figure out how to budget your time is keep a log of how much time you spend doing things you want and need to do. At the same time, track how you spend your money. Compare the lists at the end of one month and see if there are any areas where you're spending a lot of money, but not a lot of time. That's probably an area where you need to trim your spending.


For instance, if you're dropping $75 a month on a health club that you only visit once in a blue moon, that's some wasted cash right there. Instead consider channeling that money into the areas of your life where you spend the bulk of your time and, presumably, bring you the most satisfaction. Love to cook? Invest in a good set of pots and pans. Enjoy reading into the wee hours of the night? Get a comfy chair and a great book light. Over time, you may discover your spending habits are dwindling.



Quite often, areas of your life where you spend a lot of time without spending a lot of money are the areas that truly bring you the most enjoyment because you don't require a constant influx of new things to be able to enjoy yourself. I argue that those are the areas of your life that you should accentuate, while learning to let go of the areas that offer much less bang for the buck.



What brings you the most enjoyment? Trying outnew gadgets, learning a new skill, or something else? And does your spending reflect it? Share in the comments.







"

A magazine’s Scunthorpe problem

This article made me lol out loud!


A Canadian misunderstanding

Just history
Jan 21st 2010 | OTTAWA
From The Economist print edition


A magazine’s Scunthorpe problem

Still Pictures
Still Pictures

No, it’s not a pussy


CANADIANS have long been proud of the industrious beaver, an animal capable of cutting down 216 trees a year with its teeth and of surviving the long winter in a purpose-built lodge made of mud, twigs and bark. The largest rodent in North America is a national emblem. The first Canadian postage stamp, the 1851 Three-Penny Beaver, carried its image. And one of Canada’s oldest magazines carries its name.

But soon it will not. From April The Beaver will be renamed. A journal of popular history founded in 1920 by the Hudson Bay Company to celebrate its 250th anniversary, it is now owned by others. Its evocation of the fur that had made the trading company’s fortunes no longer struck the right note—especially since the word has become slang for female pubic hair.

The editors had known for some time that a name change was needed. Market research indicated that many women and people under the age of 45 said they would not subscribe solely because of the name. But it was the internet that struck the fatal blow.

The Beaver website was attracting (albeit briefly) readers who had little interest in Samuel de Champlain’s astrolabe or what prairie settlers ate for breakfast. They lasted about eight seconds before moving on. E-mails to potential subscribers were blocked by internet obscenity filters. This is known online as the Scunthorpe problem, after the town in Britain whose residents were initially unable to register with AOL because its name contained an obscenity.

The Beaver Club, a classy dining room in Montreal, and the SS Beaver, a replica of an 1835 steamship operating in British Columbia, remain unperturbed by any ambiguity. As for The Beaver, it hopes to expand its 50,000 circulation as Canada’s History. Dull, yes, but at least it will do what it says on the tin.

DATA ENTRY CLERK - PART-TIME (Midtown West)

DATA ENTRY CLERK - PART-TIME (Midtown West): "

This is insane how much they want for $7.50. I've got a BA and I'd be hard put to go to their website and figure out a bunch of Dan Brown Illuninati clues for a data entry position?

Complete the qualification quiz below. Most of the answers will be found on our web site - http://www.exigis.com. The correct answers will create an acronym. The acronym will spell out the email address where you will send your resume and cover letter. For example, if you think the correct answers are “cadcb” then send your resume to cadcb@exigis.com.


















We are young, vibrant, smart and are looking for similar
people to join the team! If you're looking for a high-adrenaline adventure with
an upside, then EXIGIS is the place for you!







The Team

EXIGIS is the leading provider of on-demand risk management automation services.
We are the fastest growing company in our industry. Hands-down. Our
award-winning risk management platform RISKworks™ is changing the way risk is
managed – join the wave!

The Position

EXIGIS is looking for Data Entry Clerks who work fast and have strong attention to detail.
This is a part-time, temporary position focused on document
management and data entry. This is the ideal job for a college student looking
to work part-time.
This position pays $7.25 an hour plus performance bonus. We offer flexible hours working either a 9 AM to 1 PM shift or a 1 PM
to 5 PM shift.



The Duties
The essential duties
include the following:




  • Organizing and scanning documents.


  • Tracking progress and reporting results.


  • Data entry and transcription, you should have fast and accurate typing skills.






The Skills

Anyone applying for this position should have the following skills and
experience:




  • Ability to type at least 70 words per minute.

  • High School Diploma Required.

  • Must be responsible, punctual, and willing to do what it takes to get the job done.

  • Must be able to communicate effectively.

  • Must be computer proficient especially with scanners and MS Excel.

  • Demonstrates high-degree of attention to detail.
  • Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner.





The Process
We have designed our selection process to find the
very Best Candidate. Follow these instructions exactly in order to qualify.







Instructions






  1. Complete the qualification quiz below. Most of the answers will be found on
    our web site - http://www.exigis.com. The correct answers will create an
    acronym. The acronym will spell out the email address where you will send your
    resume and cover letter. For example, if you think the correct answers are
    “cadcb” then send your resume to cadcb@exigis.com.

  2. You must have a professional business email address (e.g. jane.aviles@yahoo.com
    not sweets@yahoo.com). Take the time to get one if you don't have one yet.

  3. Submit a separate resume and cover letter in MS Word 2003 format and make
    sure it includes contact information (e.g. telephone, mobile phone, email
    address, IM address, and public website).

  4. Make sure that your public website(s) like LinkedIn, MySpace or Friendster
    reflect an appropriate business professional image.

  5. Send your Resume and Cover letter to the acronym email with the subject line:
    DEC20100126

  6. If you qualify, you will then be contacted for a phone interview followed by
    an in-person interview and if all goes well then you will become a member of our
    growing team!










Qualification Quiz




  1. What year was EXIGIS Founded?
    a. 2002
    b. 2000

    c. 2003
    d. 2001
    e. 1997

  2. Name one of the features of our rm.Certificates application:

    a. Authenticating certificates of insurance
    b. Automatically renew Certificate of Insurance and distribute to Certificate Holders
    c. Certificate indexing for Verisign

    d. Tracking incoming certificates of insurance
    e. Creating audit trails for domain certificates


  3. What is the objective of our rmCompliance service?
    a. To collect insurance values

    b. To provide education and training for insurance professionals

    c. To standardize contract compliance and automate the collection, validation and ongoing maintenance of Certificates of Insurance

    d. To manage financial information

    e. To host important documents


  4. EXIGIS support services are managed in accordance with a:

    a. Customer Service Contract
    b. Statement of Service
    c. Customer Support Manual
    d. Service Level Agreement

    e. Customer Service Standard

  5. What is the primary trait we are looking for in this position?

    a. Risk management knowledge and experience
    b. Extreme RAD programming skills and abilities
    c. The ability to make over 100 calls a day
    d. Extraordinary understanding of web environments
    e.
    Strong call center experience








"

In Which We Count Down The 100 Greatest Science Fiction or Fantasy Novels of All Time - Home - This Recording

This is a very subjective list, but a good start. I've read several of these books--and even claim three as my all-time favorites. I wouldn't necessarily call The Fountainhead a science fiction book, though.

Narrowing an Eating Disorder - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/health/19eat.html?hpw

We learned in Abnormal Psychology that something is a problem if it stresses you out. If it stresses you out, it's an eating disorder--even if it doesn't fit into an easy box.

Michigan weapons company Trijicon takes flak over soldiers' rifle scopes branded with Bible verses

Heavy sigh.

A Michigan weapons company is under fire for branding thousands of rifle scopes used by U.S. soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan with passages from the Bible.

U.S. military rules prohibit any service member from proselytizing while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, which are primarily Muslim nations.

Trijicon, a sighting manufacturer based in Wixom, Mich., has several multimillion-dollar contracts with the Pentagon to make sights.

Along with the sight's stock number, there are coded Bible passages from the New Testament engraved on the sights. One reads JN8:12, an apparent reference to John 8:12, which says, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

What's Your Email Address Prejudice? [Ask The Readers]

What's Your Email Address Prejudice? [Ask The Readers]: "

Is an @aol.com or @hotmail.com address a risk on a job application? Chicago Tribune writer Nancy Anderson ponders the impact an email address can have on your career and job search.

This is embarrassing, but it's 2010 and I still have an AOL e-mail address. I wonder if I hold some kind of record. I opened my AOL account in 1997. My first e-mail address was a combination of a nickname and the year I was born. Back then everyone had goofy screen names like Tarheels80 and SwimFan, so mine seemed appropriate. But as I started using e-mail more and more for freelance work, it seemed wrong. In 1998 I changed to a more respectable use of my initials and last name, still with AOL. It's the e-mail address I have today.

'You've got to get rid of that AOL address,' my sister, a Manhattan publicist, said at least five years ago. 'It's bad for your image.'

How big of an impact does your email address have on the opinions of others? Would you toss the resume of a potential employee over an email address you considered stupid or out-dated? Do you shake your head when you come across an email address like foxxymom99@aol.com?

It's common to put emails on resumes, use them for applications, and hand them out liberally in social situations, so it's not unreasonable to assess what kind of message your email address sends—or what message those of others send to you. Sound off in the comments with your email opinions and pet peeves.

AOL e-mail address: Is it hopelessly square to keep it? [Chicago Tribune]




My mother still pays for dial up aol. It drives me nuts


Make Your Own Gummi Candy [Food Hacks]

Make Your Own Gummi Candy [Food Hacks]: "


Homemade Gummi Candy [Skip to My Lou via Parent Hacks]

I have as much interest in making my own gummi candy as I do making my own sausage. Yuck!

You Really Should Be Watching Big Love [Pleas]

You Really Should Be Watching Big Love [Pleas]: "

Big LoveHBO's beguilingly wonderful melodrama about a family living on the fringe — returns for its fourth season on Sunday night. You really should watch it. If you initially wrote it off as unsympathetic, give it another chance.

We'd been excited for the show's premiere back in 2006, it just sounded so intriguing and Under the Banner of Heaveny. Mormons and polygamists and evil sect cults! But then it aired and it was just so... angular and strange. None of the characters were likable, not abhorrently misogynistic patriarch Bill (played by Bill Paxton with his usual dead-eyed drawl), and not his wives — long-suffering first wife Barb (marvelous Jeanne Tripplehorn), second fundie wife Nikki (the sneaks-up-on-you Chloe Sevigny), and third chipper child bride Margene (delightfully annoying Ginnifer Goodwin). There was just nothing to grab onto, nothing to relate to in any tangible way. These were antiquated people living in an understandably condemning modern world. Why would we want to root for this family when the very structure of the clan was so inherently fucked up?

The show just didn't have any of the sly universality of a masterwork like The Sopranos, a series about even worse monsters that still managed to seem simpatico with us regular Americans. Big Love was as weird and alien and quietly menacing as the rocky state in which it's set. We know lots of people who, after a few episodes, said 'Nunh uh' and turned the channel to something less opaque and less ugly. And we didn't blame them for it! But for some reason we stuck with the show, hoping for two seasons that it would evolve from solidly-made moral thriller into something as grand and sweeping as HBO at its best.

I started watching Season one of Big Love and I was hooked from the first episode. No, it's no Sopranos, but NOTHING is or ever can be the Sopranos. I'm now on Season Two of Big Love so don't ruin anything for me.

A Coign of Vantage, 1895

A Coign of Vantage, 1895: "

Maulleigh posted a photo:


A Coign of Vantage, 1895



Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Dutch

Oil on Panel



I used to love these kinds of paintings in college. I had a whole wall of them my sophmore year. I loved the idleness. Now, the images fill me with horror. What do they do all day? How can they cope without an internet connection?

"

People procrastinate when asked to think in the abstract

Psychology

Motivating minds
Jan 22nd 2009
From The Economist print edition


People procrastinate when asked to think in the abstract

TO SOME there is nothing so urgent that it cannot be postponed in favour of a cup of tea. Such procrastination is a mystery to psychologists, who wonder why people would sabotage themselves in this way. A team of researchers led by Sean McCrea of the University of Konstanz, in Germany, reckon they have found a piece of the puzzle. People act in a timely way when given concrete tasks but dawdle when they view them in abstract terms.

Dr McCrea and his colleagues conducted three separate studies. First they recruited 34 students who were offered €2.50 ($3.30) for completing a questionnaire within the subsequent three weeks. Half of the students were then sent an email asking them to write a couple of sentences on how they might go about various activities, such as opening a bank account or keeping a diary. The others were asked to write about why someone might want to open a bank account or keep a diary.

For their second study, Dr McCrea and his colleagues recruited 50 students, who were offered the same sums and timespans as the first lot. Half of these students were asked to provide examples of members of a group, for example, naming any type of bird. The task was inverted for the other students, who were asked to name a category to which birds belong.

Finally the researchers asked 51 students, who were again offered cash and given a deadline, to examine a copy of "La Parade" by Georges Seurat, a 19th-century French artist. Half were given information about pointillism, the technique Seurat used to create the impression of solid colours from small dots of paint. The others were told that the painting was an example of neo-impressionism in which the artist had used colour to evoke harmony and emotion. Both groups were then asked to rate the importance of colour in 13 other works of art.

As the team report in Psychological Science, in all three studies, those who were presented with concrete tasks and information responded more promptly than did those who were asked to think in an abstract way. Moreover, almost all the students who had been prompted to think in concrete terms completed their tasks by the deadline while up to 56% of students asked to think in abstract terms failed to respond at all.

Theories abound for why people procrastinate. Some psychologists think that those who delay completing tasks do so because they have low confidence that they will succeed in that task. Perhaps procrastinators are perfectionists or they may just be depressed. Others believe they are impulsive and lack self-control. Earlier research has shown that people defer tasks that are unappealing, difficult or expensive, which is no great surprise. Dr McCrea and his colleagues, however, are the first to show that the way in which a task is presented also influences when it gets done.

Those seeking to cajole a colleague, friend or spouse into action might ponder the finding, though perhaps not for too long. It might be better to offer a procrastinator a concrete choice—Lapsang Souchong or Darjeeling?—rather than asking him just what sort of a person it is who would drink tea when time is of the essence.


It is important to break tasks down into smaller bits. If I say to myself, "I'm going to write a novel in 2010", it's never going to get done. If I say, "I'll write an outline by February 1" there's a lot better chance it'll get done.