Nathan Chitty Weblog

Unemployment Contrast-Sélestat and Emmendingen are French German Towns on the border

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/world/europe/when-a-border-shapes-more-than-territory.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303816504577309731206715296.html

"A story in the New York Times a few weeks ago reported on two small towns on the border between France and Germany. French Sélestat, in Alsace, has an unemployment rate of 8% and a youth unemployment rate of 23%. Across the border in Emmendingen, the rates are 3% and 7%. (The U.S.'s own unemployment rates these days are closer to those in Sélestat.)

Pump Station 11 of the TransAlaskan Pipeline on my 22nd birthday

I will always remember being at Pump Station 11 of the TransAlaskan Pipeline on my 22nd birthday. What an adventure working in Alaska.

Foreign Policy Magazine "Six Big Lies About How Jerusalem Runs Washington"

Foreign Policy magazine has an excellent daily email of articles. Today's has an informed and balanced explanation of "Six Big Lies..."

One of the interesting observations in 6 was "Obama is more like George H.W. Bush when it comes to Israel, but without a strategy."

Here are the Six:

1. The White House is Israeli-occupied territory.

2. The U.S.-Israel relationship rests on shared values alone.

3. Lobbies are evil.

4. His Jewish advisors made him do it.

5. Election-year politics are driving Obama to war with Iran.

6. Barack Obama is just as pro-Israel as Bill Clinton or George W. Bush.

Accountability from our political leaders

Michael Hyatt's blog entry today: HOW REAL LEADERS DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY is well worth reading. Among other things it shows an example of an accountable report by an executive to his CEO.

As a nation our political leaders are not holding themselves accountable for results their leadership decisions. The republic suffers as the leaders continue to spin and not be accountable. 

 

From Time: Why China Will Have an Economic Crisis

http://business.time.com/2012/02/27/why-china-will-have-an-economic-crisis/

Great article highlighting the high percentage of investment driving the Chinese GNP particularly in the property sector. Crisis coming.

 

Michael Hyatt Blog-THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISION AND PRODUCTIVITY

http://michaelhyatt.com/003-the-relationship-between-vision-and-productivity-podcast.html

Michael Hyatt gives another insightful presentation in this podcast about developing a Vision.

"EPISODE OUTLINE

I discuss how any leader can develop vision by following these seven steps:

1. Get alone with a journal and a pen.
2. Make sure you won’t be interrupted.
3. Close your eyes and pray.
4. Jot down your current reality.
5. Now write down what you want to see happen.
6. Share your vision with those who have a stake in the outcome.
7. Commit to reading your vision daily."

 

 

The Primary Difference Between the Wise and Foolish

http://michaelhyatt.com/the-wise-and-the-foolish.html

Great blog post. Good follow-up reference to the book "Necessary Endings" which reminds me too of Seth Godin's book "The Dip" about "The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)."

From Michael Hyatt's blog post:

"If you are dealing with a fool, however, talking is a waste of your time. They resist change. The problem is never “in the room.” It’s always out there somewhere—something you can neither access nor address.

I have always wondered why some conversations never seem to go any where. Instead, I am left confused and frustrated. Now I know. This inevitably happens when you are talking with a fool.

By the way, this doesn’t mean that you have to write fools off. Instead, you have to change strategies. More talk won’t help a fool. Instead, you must:

Stop talking.
Provide limits.
Give consequences."

Obama's Dividend Assault-a bad idea

"A plan to triple the tax rate would hurt all shareholders.

Who would get hurt? IRS data show that retirees and near-retirees who depend on dividend income would be hit especially hard. Almost three of four dividend payments go to those over the age of 55, and more than half go to those older than 65, according to IRS data."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204880404577225493025537660.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

U.S. Unemployment Increases in Mid-February

U.S. Unemployment Increases in Mid-February.

Figures don't lie, but liars figure. - Samuel Clemens 

"PRINCETON, NJ -- The U.S. unemployment rate, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 9.0% in mid-February, up from 8.6% for January. The mid-month reading normally reflects what the U.S. government reports for the entire month, and is up from 8.3% in mid-January."

I sure hope that the government calculating of the improved unemployment rate has been accurate and not politically motivated. If the improvement turns out to be manipulated by decreasing the work force numbers I will really be disappointed. The good news insofar a truth is concerned is that data may be manipulated for a month or two but ultimately it comes out.

Jeremy Lin's journey, illustrated

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7586960/an-infographic-look-journey-jeremy-lin

"What does Linsanity look like? The folks at InfographicWorld.com show us, with this elaborate, detailed and colorful illustration showing the depth and breadth of Jeremy Lin's journey to -- and impact on -- the NBA."