Market Analysts: Bird in Hand Now Worth 2.4 in Bush
Economists at Harvard University have published a paper noting a small uptick in the value of handheld birds as compared to those in the proverbial “bush.”
“For a long time, a bird in hand was worth two in the bush,” says Betsy Wenner, lead economic researcher at Harvard Business School. “But there are a number of market forces that have caused a shift over the last decade.” The economists agree that the average worldwide market value of a bird in hand is now 2.4 times that of a bush dwelling fowl.
The paper cites inflation, the 2008 housing crisis, and of course, China, as leading factors. The researchers are also quick to point out the volatility of niche bird markets, and do not advise anyone to make avian investments without first consulting an expert in your region.
Via oaklandEarthGirl.
STUDY: Cats Bored by Facebook Friends From High School
A new study from Forrester Research concludes that the overwhelming majority of cats — 76% to be exact — find their high school acquaintances boring on the social networking site Facebook.
Most felines are tired of the constant minutiae, photos of food and inspirational quotes. A smaller subset went so far as to exclude boring friends from their News Feeds, though very few cats unfriended the lame-os in their network for fear of missing something.
Submitted by Sydney Wasserman.
Cowboy and Wizard Bunny Visit From Alternate Universe
Two bunnies are speaking later this week at Stanford University, where they will be professors visiting from another universe this semester. “Where they come from,” said Dr. Ines Grunberg, ”everything is like a bad sci-fi mashup action movie. Lots of gun fights and laser battles and explosions where no one’s clothes get wrinkled.”
The two bunnies will be team-teaching a class that combines the studies of quantum field theory, defense against the dark arts and lasso technique.
Via Eddy & Rambo, by way of bunnyfood.
Leaving on a Jet plane… eventually…
Tuesday at 14:20 via Mobile - Perth domestic airport looks like a homeless shelter. People sleeping on the floor everywhere… The storms yesterday knocked out a lot of flights it seems. Not a happy place.
I asked one woman how long she had been here for, she said since 8am yesterday morning. O.o
We were given no information on the Qantas website before I left the house, it was not until I tried to check in that I received an sms advising the plane had been delayed.
Tuesday at 17:43 via Mobile - Still at Perth airport. Flights delayed by nearly four hours. Am not the only one, all departing Perth flights seem to have significant delays due to storms yesterday. Will miss current connections, have been advised that I will get no further information till i get to Sydney and that there is nothing that can be done. Thanks to Mel for coming to the airport to see me off and for hanging out for a few hours. Ended up having a laugh and hi to Jon and Justin who were here waiting for another flight. Was great to catch up! Need sleep soon.
Tuesday at 19:16 via Mobile - New update. They changed boarding gates without telling anyone. Glad I checked. I asked at the service desk to be told that now connecting flights will need to be rebooked when I get to Sydney, when I land I should organise this through the service desk there. Overnight in Sydney. Think qantas may get me hotel room. Wont know anything else till i land tonight.
Tuesday at 19:51 - Just spoke to a man who has been here since 5am yesterday. He is not impressed…
Watch this space (well, in the future, right now it isnt doing much)
Just under one week till I journey to lands faraway and all that stuff.
Will make an effort to blog things here.
Many hugs :D
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Expand chest, head up slightly, depress chest, force the air in out, Whoosh… Whoosh…
Gurk Gack
Breathe Breathe Breathe.
Happy Halloween!
Jeffrey wasn’t sure why no one would hang around with him anymore. Maybe it was his new deodorant?
![thedailywhat:
Cutest Call To Action Ever of the Day: On October 5, the container ship MV Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef, resulting in an oil spill that is already being regarded as the worst environmental disaster in New Zealand’s history.
Clean up efforts are underway, but the danger to local wildlife remains high. A raft of Little Blue Penguins has already been negatively impacted by the spill.
The Kiwi yarn store Skeinz has put out a call for penguin sweaters — an adorable-sounding but very necessary accessory that helps keep the birds from preening their feathers and ingesting the oil.
Skeinz has posted knitting instructions for anyone willing to lend a hand.
[skeinz / grist.]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltcd80mX451qzpwi0o1_500.jpg)
Cutest Call To Action Ever of the Day: On October 5, the container ship MV Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef, resulting in an oil spill that is already being regarded as the worst environmental disaster in New Zealand’s history.
Clean up efforts are underway, but the danger to local wildlife remains high. A raft of Little Blue Penguins has already been negatively impacted by the spill.
The Kiwi yarn store Skeinz has put out a call for penguin sweaters — an adorable-sounding but very necessary accessory that helps keep the birds from preening their feathers and ingesting the oil.
Skeinz has posted knitting instructions for anyone willing to lend a hand.
If you haven’t dealt with depression, I know exactly what I want you to get out of this. Humility. Know that your imagination isn’t up to the task of approximating what it’s like to actually be depressed. Understand that you aren’t qualified to determine who around you is entitled to be depressed. And if someone you know indicates that he or she may be depressed, take the “that’s life” speech and shove it. No one who is depressed has ever been helped by someone who isn’t depressed telling them they need to get over it. The best you can do is tell them that you will support them if they address the situation and seek help. You’d be surprised how hard it is to seek help when you’re already self-conscious about the problem. The best you can ever do for someone who is depressed is help alleviate that singular instance of embarrassment on their part.
“
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Travis McClain, On Depression, Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (via keiren-smith) |
Shocking news today from Kevin Sorbo. The actor revealed he suffered not one, but several strokes while filming Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in the 90s.
At what point does the need for security eclipse human dignity and compassion?
Yesterday I went through the imaging scanner at JFK Terminal 4 for my Virgin America flight to San Francisco. Evidently they found something, because after the scan, I was asked to step aside to have my breast area examined. I explained to the agent that I was a breast cancer patient and had a bilateral mastectomy in April and had tissue expanders put in to make way for reconstruction at a later date.
I told her that I was not comfortable with having my breasts touched and that I had a card in my wallet that explains the type of expanders, serial numbers and my doctor’s information (pictured) and asked to retrieve it. This request was denied. Instead, she called over a female supervisor who told me the exam had to take place. I was again told that I could not retrieve the card and needed to submit to a physical exam in order to be cleared. She then said, “And if we don’t clear you, you don’t fly” loud enough for other passengers to hear. And they did. And they stared at the bald woman being yelled at by a TSA Supervisor.
To my further dismay, my belongings, including my computer, were completely out of sight. I had no choice but to allow an agent to touch my breasts in front of other passengers.
I just didn’t understand why these agents were so insensitive to the situation. I would have been happy to show her which bag was mine and have her retrieve the card, but she did not allow even that. I have been through emotional and physical hell this past year due to breast cancer. The way I was treated by these TSA agents added a shitload of insult to injury and caused me a great deal of humiliation.
I understand the need for safety when flying, but there is also a need for those responsible to be compassionate and sensitive to each situation. These agents were neither.
I can only comfort myself with the fact that Karma is always circular.
Tuesday at 20:38 via Mobile - On a plane. The shock. Made lots of friends
Staff at the desk told me to go away when I asked about how things work, also I will get 10$ phone credit on the phone at the hotel in which to advise loved ones of current progressions. Turns out that once I have the letter and the rough directions for where the bus pickup is, I am on my own. Now stuck waiting in rain for a qantas bus, staying at menzies in city. If anyone from qantas eventually turns up - there is no liaison officer present to inform many of us waiting if we are in the correct place (nor any signage), and other passengers lining up across the street are not aware we are all waiting for the same bus, until I go over and ask them.
epileptic fit in the aisle that lasted over five min. Going to paste this together later into a blog. Still. They didnt lose my luggage, they made me pick it up and drag it with me. This at least seems sensible.
Rebooked. Have to be at sydney airport at 4am. now i am travelling to auckland, then los angelos, then off to dc.
Wednesday at 13:45 - Had a browse. Wow duty free is such a rip off :p