That question can be answered at two levels. An evolutionary biologist would tell you that it is because women get evolutionary bonus points from living long enough to help bring up the grandchildren. Men, by contrast, wear themselves out competing for the right to procreate in the first place. That is probably true, but not much help to the medical profession. However, a group of researchers at John Moores University, in Liverpool, England, has just come up with a medically useful answer. It is that while 70-year-old men have the hearts of 70-year-olds, those of their female peers resemble the hearts of 20-year-olds.
Monthly Archives: January 2005
Air Travel: Getting worse or?
Tuesday’s launch of the up to 800 seat Airbus A380 is a useful time to consider the state of air travel:
- Milwaukee based Midwest Airlines has substantially reduced it’s award winning business class service. I imagine the wide seats will be gone completely in the near future. Tom Daykin takes a look at Midwest and wonders which direction they will go. I frankly think they should take another look at slightly up market service. The race to the bottom is never a successful strategy.
- The use of regional jets (50 to 100 seats) continues to grow. In effect, we passengers are packed in tighter than sardines on these small jets. Some airlines fly these things on 1000+ mile routes. Not a great way to travel.
- The emerging microjet or air taxi business offers an interesting glimpse into the future. 4 passenger jets….
Paul Yvarra: Candidate for Wisconsin DPI Superintendent
I recently had an opportunity to visit with Dr. Paul Yvarra, candidate for Wisconsin DPI Superintendent. This interview is available in both Quicktime Video and mp3 audio 1 | mp3 audio 2. Check it out. Learn more about all four Wisconsin DPI Superintendent candidates here.
Milwaukee County Voting Strangeness?
Michelle Malkin points out a story that I had missed in neighboring Wisconsin, one that calls into question the veracity of its presidential-election results. Wisconsin wound up going for John Kerry by 11,300 votes in what came as a mild surprise to most observers in the Upper Midwest (via Stranded On Blue Islands). Al Gore had carried the state by a shade over 5,000 votes in 2000, and most pollsters had the race a dead heat or George Bush pulling slightly ahead in 2004. Instead, Kerry took Wisconsin by doubling Gore’s total.
How did that happen? Well, in one county — Milwaukee, a traditional Democratic stronghold — turnout increased by just under 49,000 votes, or about 10%, outstripping the nationwide increase of 6.4%. The new votes broke about 60/40 Kerry, about the trend of the county in both elections, adding a 9,000-vote margin to Milwaukee over Gore in the last election.
But here’s where the Silence Of The Cheese gets … well, stickier. According to state records, 83,000 people executed a same-day registration for Milwuakee County, which is more than 20% of all voting-age residents in the county. Now, Wisconsinites may procrastinate a bit, but in order to believe that number, you’d have to expect that 20% of the county had moved or became newly eligible within the past two years (after the previous national cycle). Not only that, but the state now reports that 10,000 of those registrations cannot be verified, a whopping 12% of all same-day registrations and almost the entire margin of victory for Kerry for the entire state.
There’s more, including some corrections to the data. Via instapundit.
Zuboff on Business Ethics
Shoshana Zuboff makes a few useful points on business ethics:
When I wondered last month how the insurance industry carries on when so many customers have lost faith in it, I had no idea my worst fears would be confirmed so soon. The short answer is that some of them cheat. That’s how companies can remain profitable while being despised and mistrusted by so many customers. This was captured piquantly by Vinay Saqi, a Morgan Stanley insurance analyst, who noted insurance companies have had “a difficult time making money when the game is rigged in their favor. We’re concerned they won’t fare well in a truly competitive environment.”
Among the wealth of wrongdoing in this still unfolding story, one fact looms over the rest: Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of grown-ups knew about an array of fraudulent practices and failed to shout, “Wrong!” Instead, many regulators, independent watchdogs, brokers, executives in both the retail and commercial sectors, benefits consultants, and investment advisers joined together in a parallel moral universe. Collusion and conformity — “it’s not wrong because everyone is doing it” — is accepted. Obedience — “it’s not wrong because they told me to do it” — is okay. Opportunism — “it’s only wrong if I get caught” — is encouraged. And, of course, narcissism — “it’s not wrong if it’s good for us” — is celebrated.
Fakra, Lebananon Mediterranean VR Scene
Fadi Saikali shot a gorgeous VR scene 2000m above the Mediterranean Sea in Fakra, Lebanon. Enjoy!
Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Candidate Sites
I’ve posted a brief summary of the 4 candidates for Wisconsin DPI (Department of Public Instruction) Superintendent. This page includes:
- Contact information
- Audio/Video Interviews
- Fat links to extensive background information
I’ll update this page periodically.
Saturday Night Live has its way with Dan Rather & Rathergate
SNL lampoons Dan Rather’s document problems (transcript & video).
Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Candidate: Todd Stelzel
I had an opportunity to visit recently with Black Earth resident, Wisconsin Heights teacher and Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Candidate Todd Stelzel. I’ve posted a 13 minute video clip and mp3 audio file where Stelzel discuss his background, candidacy and asks for our vote. Following are a number of fat links to information about Stelzel, who recently completed his Masters Degree at Edgewood College in Madison. Fat Links (click on the icons):
Look for an interview with another candidate, Dr. Paul Yvarra soon. I’ve not heard from incumbent Madison resident Elizabeth Burmaster or Gregg Underheim. If I do, I will post their interviews as well.