The Big Picture |
- Americans Are The Most Spied On People In World History
- A “Different Kind of Music List” for 2012
- 10 Thursday PM Reads
- Financial Planning Made Complicated
- Home Prices Fall Monthly, Rise Annually in October 2012
- The Solar System is a Helical Vortex
- 10 Thursday AM Reads
- The Mayan apocalypse: what is the ultimate fate of our universe?
- Another Mediocre Year (Decade) for Hedge Funds
- Perspectives on the U.S. Labor Market
- Guitar Riff: The Sound Of James Bond
- Palaces of Benz, BMW, Audi & Porsche
| Americans Are The Most Spied On People In World History Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:30 PM PST More Spying On Citizens than in Stasi East GermanyTechDirt notes:
Indeed, the American government has more information on the average American than Stalin had on Russians, Hitler had on German citizens, or any other government has ever had on its people. The American government is collecting and storing virtually every phone call, purchases, email, text message, internet searches, social media communications, health information, employment history, travel and student records, and virtually all other information of every American. Some also claim that the government is also using facial recognition software and surveillance cameras to track where everyone is going. Moreover, cell towers track where your phone is at any moment, and the major cell carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, responded to at least 1.3 million law enforcement requests for cell phone locations and other data in 2011. And – given that your smartphone routinely sends your location information back to Apple or Google – it would be child's play for the government to track your location that way. As the top spy chief at the U.S. National Security Agency explained this week, the American government is collecting some 100 billion 1,000-character emails per day, and 20 trillion communications of all types per year. He says that the government has collected all of the communications of congressional leaders, generals and everyone else in the U.S. for the last 10 years. He further explains that he set up the NSA's system so that all of the information would automatically be encrypted, so that the government had to obtain a search warrant based upon probably cause before a particular suspect's communications could be decrypted. But the NSA now collects all data in an unencrypted form, so that no probable cause is needed to view any citizen's information. He says that it is actually cheaper and easier to store the data in an encrypted format: so the government's current system is being done for political – not practical – purposes. He says that if anyone gets on the government's "enemies list", then the stored information will be used to target them. Specifically, he notes that if the government decides it doesn't like someone, it analyzes all of the data it has collected on that person and his or her associates over the last 10 years to build a case against him. As we've previously documented, the spying isn't being done to keep us safe … but to crush dissent and to smear people who uncover unflattering this about the government … and to help the too big to fail businesses compete against smaller businesses (and here). And as we point out at every opportunity, this is not some "post-9/11 reality". Spying on Americans – and most of the other attacks on liberty – started before 9/11. Senator Frank Church – who chaired the famous "Church Committee" into the unlawful FBI Cointel program, and who chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – said in 1975:
We can debate whether or not dictators are running Washington. But one thing is clear: the capacity is already here. TechDirt points out:
That's true. The tyrants in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia and Stasi Eastern Europe would have liked to easedrop on every communication and every transaction of every citizen. But in the world before the internet, smart phones, electronic medical records and digital credit card transactions, much of what happened behind closed doors remained private. (And modern tin pot dictators don't have the tens of billions of dollars necessary to set up a sophisticated electronic spying system). In modern America, a much higher percentage of your communications and transactions are being recorded and stored by the government.
Source: Washington Blogs |
| A “Different Kind of Music List” for 2012 Posted: 27 Dec 2012 04:00 PM PST Its that time of year again: I present TBP’s annual "Different Kind of Music List" for 2012. (Click to see prior years’ lists). Here's the deal with our Anti-list : Lots of Best of Lists are out there, but they ain't relevant to people with families, careers, hobbies, etc. I do not have time to listen to 200 new CDs each year, and I suspect you don’t either. Hence, this list. Rather than cranking out yet another list of new music you never heard (and probably never will hear), this is a more useful list: What a relatively informed music fan's "Most played" albums were this year — at least, according to my iTunes and the missus (Your playing THAT again!?!). These are the albums that were my personal soundtrack for 2012. (selected videos after the jump). Those the ground rules. Let's have at it: ~~~ • Album of the year: Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls Their debut album was filled with music that was raw powerful, and exciting mix of roots rock, country blues, soul and gospel. It has a decidedly retro flavor to it, but is still fresh and original. The song writing is powerful, the band tight, and they sound as if they really light it up on. Lead singer Brittany Howard has a voice full of soul and fire. Someone astute;ly observed she is "The love child of Otis Redding and Janis Joplin." A potent power trio backs her. In their live shows, the band covers James Brown to Otis Redding, as well Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. That eclectic taste informs their original recordings. No histrionics or irony, just straight forward blues driven rock n roll. PS: The CD is $6 . . . ~~~ • Box Set of the year: Led Zeppelin Celebration Day
27 years later, on December 10, 2007, Led Zeppelin took the stage at London's O2 Arena to headline a tribute concert — and what followed has been described as the greatest rock and roll concert ever. It is reflected in this two+ hour tour de force of the band's signature rock 'n' roll. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham, (son of late drummer John Bonham), performed 17 songs, recorded in high definition. Note: The video is crisp and clean, but I found the direction a bit annoying (too many fast cuts, focused on the wrong things). Regardless, the music is incredibly vibrant and powerful, and the audio quality is simply stunning. My head exploded as I listened to this. ~~~ • Great new record from a classic rock star Mark Knopfler Privateering
The Knopfler touch is instantly recognizable the second the guitar picking is heard. Knopfler’s understated guitar work is evocative and beautiful, giving the album a cinematic quality. The expected thoughtful musicianship is here, with a regal quiet and warm inviting feel. The collection of 20 songs has lots of depth that rewards repeated listening. Gently haunting melodies and lyrical narratives make it a worthwhile pleasure. ~~~ • Genre Change: Norah Jones Little Broken Hearts She is evolving musically, adding the title sultry pop songstress to her reputation as a jazz chanteuse. The album has a meditative, dreamy quality. This songwriting collaboration with Danger Mouse is very different than her usual commercially successful downbeat, easy-listening jazz recordings. Jones adds elements of longing and heartbreak to her sexy purr. This is an album that I found myself listening to a lot this past summer. ~~~
“…And if you’re so God almighty then what’s with all this mystery? Yes I wanna trust ya buddy, but you’re clearly keeping secrets from me.” A clever and nasty disc of stripped down blues lamenting human foolish, banker follies and other assorted disasters of everyday life. Beyond religion and economics, Snyder careens through topics as varied as youth culture, unemployment, rock-and-roll history and doomed romance. Rolling Stone called it "hilarious, infuriated broadsides about economic injustice delivered in Snider’s stoner drawl over twangy roots rock." ~~~ • Redemption disc: John Mayer Born And Raised Thge album is a mix of delicate acoustic guitars, soulful harmonica, piano and steel guitar creating a gentle balance of California country and southern rock. It is easy to forget what a good guitarist Mayer is, and he shows off his chops with strong acoustic work. Producer Don Was seems to have coaxed Mayer away from pop, towards a m ore mature sound. The album is more nuanced than his other efforts, with an easygoing intimacy that seems to suit him. This was another album that got played all summer — it has a delicate complexity that revealed itself with multiple listenings, as layers get peeled away. Its surprisingly good clean fun. ~~~ • Mash Up/Crossover: R.L. Burnside A Bothered Mind R. L. Burnside (November 23, 1926 – September 1, 2005) was a country blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who lived much of his life in and around Holly Springs, Mississippi. He played music for much of his life, but did not receive much attention until the early 1990s. Burnside was a legendary bluesman, known as much for guitar picking as for his trademark vocals. The disc mixes traditional blues with other genres, and features interesting collaborations with Kid Rock and Lyrics Born. I belatedly discovered A Bothered Mind (2004) by accident. It was the song A Someday Baby, a mash up with Lyrics Born, that hooked me. A traditional blues riff starts the tune, followed by an infectious syncopated beat that you don’t typically hear on older blues records. RL’s gravelly vocals move the song forward, but it really begins to kick when Lyrics Born California flavored rhymes turns this into something else altogether. (check out the video after the jump) ~~~ • Overlooked album: Paul Simon So Beautiful Or So What This one seemed to have snuck by me in 2011, and I suspect you as well. It was critically very well recieved, but I hardly ever hear anyone mention it. Rolling Stone names it one of the 50 best albums of 2011. No lesser an authority than Elvis Costello said: “Throughout the record, I kept coming up against what I can only call, rock and roll surprises; not some orthodox formula but indelible, hypnotic guitar motifs and swinging, off-center rhythms tipping your expectations into a new kind of thrill.” All I can add is this is a worthy successor to Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints. If you haven’t done so yet, check it out. ~~~ • WTF Album: Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do A brilliant and dark work of austere haunting alt-pop. Idler Wheel was recorded with a minimalist approach, using bare-bones instrumentation. Indeed, the album is entirely acoustic – mostly vocals, piano and drums. It requires a confident, master songwriter to present themselves so naked and revealed. Fiona is calm, calculated and serene on this disc, she has developed a maturity Raw, eloquent, artful. This is a formidable album, both intrusive and challenging. It demands your full attention, but it rewards the attentive listener. NPR called it "deliberately maddening,, eventually addictive." ~~~
Cyrille Aimée is a new talent in the modern age of jazz. Combining Dominican rhythms with French Jazz swing produces something new yet recognizable. On Smile, is similarly delightful, with Cyrille’s vocals accompanied by Diego’s Flamenco guitar is stripped down and charming, with a relaxed Brazilian vibe. H : Cyrille Aimée + Friends – Live at Smalls (2011) This 2011 disc is a straight forward combo playing more traditional Jazz. The backing band is first rate, capable of carrying much of the record on their own. But then those charming vocals come in, and you are back to what makes her so interesting to listen to. ~~~
I fell in love with this spectacular album in grad school. It was released as Steve McQueen in the UK, where it is well known, but in the US, this Thomas Dolby-produced album is called Two Wheels Good — and here it is mostly unknown, rarely heard. And that is a shame, as its a tour de force of song writing chops, clever lyrics, and brilliant music. (See our discussion of best unknown/unheard albums here). Paddy McAloon's songwriting has been justly compared to Brian Wilson. Each heart rending song of love and loss is harrowing, gorgeous, lovely. The lyrics are sly, full of wry irony. They grab you, and refuse to let go. Every song is a brilliant combination of musical jazz arrangement, pop melody, and lyrical genius. I cannot listen to this disc without thinking about love lost in days gone by. The 2007 remastered version is a two disc set. The original recording has been remastered, cleaning up some of the flaws and shortcomings of the original 1985 recording. The second disc is an acoustic version of many of the songs in the original album. Note that the US version of Two Wheels Good has a few extra songs, including the heart rending He’ll Have To Go. ~~~ Last, some old favorites that did not make my list, but are still worthy of attention. These are classic bands who out good albums that for whatever reason, failed to make the final cut:
~~~ Videos after the jump
Alabama Shakes – Hold On (Official Video) ~~~ Led Zeppelin – Black Dog – Celebration Day ~~~ Mark Knopfler – Privateering ~~~ Todd Snider Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ The Making of So Beautiful or So What | Paul Simon ~~~ |
| Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:30 PM PST The
What are you reading?
Home Prices Hit a Milestone |
| Financial Planning Made Complicated Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:30 AM PST |
| Home Prices Fall Monthly, Rise Annually in October 2012 Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:15 AM PST
click for larger charts ~~~
I meant to get to these yesterday, but was too busy working on tonight’s Best of Music for 2012 post. A man’s got to have his priorities! S&P:
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| The Solar System is a Helical Vortex Posted: 27 Dec 2012 08:30 AM PST The coolest 3 minutes you will spend today: make full screen Information & research will be updated here: http://www.djsadhu.com/the-helical-model-vortex-solar-system-animation/ No, this was not made with Universe Sandbox, but with 3DsMax. Published on Aug 24, 2012 |
| Posted: 27 Dec 2012 07:15 AM PST Some reads to help you through your day:
What are you reading?
Checking Up on Post Bubble Markets: Tech vs Financials |
| The Mayan apocalypse: what is the ultimate fate of our universe? Posted: 27 Dec 2012 06:00 AM PST |
| Another Mediocre Year (Decade) for Hedge Funds Posted: 27 Dec 2012 05:43 AM PST
This is not a mere one off, a single year's underperformance, but rather, symptoms of a much deeper, longer lasting problem:
Now, there are a few caveats to this: Sturgeons law certainly applies to the more than 8000 Hedge funds. If you are lucky enough to be invested with the top decile of managers this year, they have “served up returns of over 30%.” And the very top tier of hedgies have crushed it over the past (insert your preferred time period here) ____ . But that’s looking backwards — its quite easy to say who were the best performing hedge funds the past decade. The trick is being able to identify who will be the best performers over the next decade. That is a skillset that even the biggest and best endowments, pension funds and individual investors seem to lack. Note that these issues are before we even reach the question of enormous 2&20 fee structure. “Gallingly,” writes The Eeconomist, this underperformance comes as “the profits passed on to their investors are almost certainly lower than the fees creamed off by the managers themselves.” Expect this to be a continuing issue int he coming decade.
Previously: |
| Perspectives on the U.S. Labor Market Posted: 27 Dec 2012 05:30 AM PST It's year end and time for some perspective on the economy. Let's start with the U.S. labor market. The employment to population ratio remains stuck at around 58.7 percent, levels not seen since the mid-1980′s. This is due to both structural factors, such as demographics and an increase in the population on disability, as well as cyclical influences.
Nonfarm payrolls have grown, on average, 154K per month in the first 11 months of 2012, down from 175K per month, last year.
The private sector has recovered about 58 percent of the 8.833 million jobs lost during the Great Recession. The goods producing sector, mainly, construction and manufacturing sectors, were hit disproportionately hard and have yet to fully recover. Construction, for example, is operating at only 74 percent of December 2007 levels. Hopes are high for construction hiring as the U.S. housing market recovers. Conversely, the private service producing sector has fully recovered though with a much different profile and, unfortunately, in lower wage industries.
Source: Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress
(click here if charts are not observable) |
| Guitar Riff: The Sound Of James Bond Posted: 27 Dec 2012 05:00 AM PST
Source: |
| Palaces of Benz, BMW, Audi & Porsche Posted: 27 Dec 2012 04:00 AM PST Bloomberg heads to Germany to peek inside the world’s greatest auto museums, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Audi.
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