Religion Continues to Play Significant Role in Party Identification

Gallup interviews conducted over the past four months suggest that "religion remains a significant correlate of political party identification in the U.S. today." As has been the case historically, people who are "very religious" are more likely to identify as Republicans and less likely to identify as Democrats. Survey data shows that 49 percent of very religious Americans identify as Republican or Republican-leaning, as compared with only 30 percent of nonreligious Americans.

Gallup categorized respondents as very, moderately, or not religious based on their answers to two questions regarding "the importance of religion and church attendance." For the very religious, "religion is an important part of daily life" and respondents attend their place of worship once every week (or almost every week). The nonreligious do not consider religion to play an important role in their everyday lives, and they seldom attend services. The moderately religious include "all who do not fall into the very religious or nonreligious groups but who provided valid responses on both religion questions ."

The impact of religion on party identification is most clearly visible among whites: 62 percent of very religious whites identify as Republicans, compared with 33 percent of nonreligious whites. Hispanics and Asians are on the whole more affiliated with the Democratic Party than they are with the Republican Party, but "very religious Hispanics and Asians skew less Democratic and more Republican than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."
According to Gallup, "Very religious Hispanics are more likely to identify as Democrats than as Republicans by 17 points, compared with a 30-point difference among nonreligious Hispanics." And Among Asians, "net Democratic identification rises from 12 points among the very religious to 39 points among [the] nonreligious." Blacks, however, appear to be the exception to the rule. They are "the most Democratic of the four racial and ethnic groups," and religion appears to make little or no "difference in blacks' political orientation." If anything, more religious blacks tend to affiliate as Democrats with slightly more frequency: 78 percent of very religious blacks identify as Democrats or Democratic-leaning, as compared with 74 percent of nonreligious blacks. Gallup writes on the exception: "The historical ties between blacks and the Democratic Party are so strong that they overwhelm any of the independent impact of religiousness so evident among other racial groups."
NH cf

Is Your Innovation Working?

By Virgil Carter

Does your organization have the ability to innovate?  Does it have the ability to deliver new and redesigned goods and services to your members and customers?   Or do you do what you’ve always done, the way you’ve always done it? 

Recent research by Booz & Company, reported by Anna Pettersson and August Viak in Strategy+Business, reveals an “unexpected and unheralded source of potential productivity:  midlevel managers!”  According to the article, organizations can raise their innovation productivity by recognizing and activating “the unique impact of leaders in the middle of the organization’s hierarchy”.

While the research was specifically focused on innovation in pharmaceutical companies, the findings have application to a wide range of organizations, including non-profit organizations.  Among key findings were three key elements:

1. Clearly differentiated roles for senior, middle, and project managers.  By formally defining the responsibilities of each level, organizations can take full advantage of the different contributions that people at each of these three levels (senior, middle, and project managers) can offer.  And it can avoid the often inherent duplication and redundancy that may take place.

2. A focus on the pivotal roles across the middle.  Managers in midlevel roles typically oversee groups of sufficient scale to develop expertise, create connections and opportunities for innovation, and marshal resources to support good ideas and to deliver results. Midlevel managers are well equipped to select and increase opportunities and can also guide promising ideas through the organization to make sure that they aren’t knocked out too easily in a process based on abstract criteria.

3. The development of critical skills within the middle-management group. To lead effectively, middle managers must have personal credibility. However, this is not enough.  Effective leaders differentiate themselves in several key ways. For example, they define a compelling vision or destination for their team’s work products.  Strong leaders must also connect beyond boundaries and establish critical networking interactions that are at the heart of innovation. Finally, midlevel manager must also utilize “multiple lenses” for problem solving, “applying insights gained from throughout the organization.

Use these elements to assess and build the needed training and support for the leadership capabilities of your middle management staff.  Your organization’s innovation will be the beneficiary.

Fermented Tapioca Pudding (Puding Tapai Ubikayu)

 I have kept this dessert recipe from Ummi's house for more than a year and determined to make it when I fermented the tapioca I posted four weeks ago. Yes, four weeks in the fridge and the fermented tapioca only get sweeter and after struggling so much with time, I finally managed get it done yesterday.

I brought 3 cups to office after lunch time and all the ladies who tasted it gave so much compliments. A couple of them now motivated to make fermented tapioca soon in order to make this dessert. Big compliments to Ummi for sharing such a marvelous recipe.

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation
Source: Ummi@Home Sweet Home
(Translated into English by HomeKreation. Recipe is slightly modified to suit ownself. Refer to link for original recipe)
Makes 9 cups.
INGREDIENTS:
+/- 6 pcs Fermented Tapioca - remove middle stem
½ cup Sugar
500ml Fresh Milk
1 Egg
2 tbsp Cornflour
1 tbsp Pandan Paste

METHOD:
1. Place all ingredients in a blender & process until smooth.
Pour into small heat proof cups.
Steam for 20 minutes.
Cool & refrigerate before serve.

2. Serve with gravy & cocktail fruits.

GRAVY:
1 tin Evaporated Milk
½ cup Sugar
1 cup Water
1 Egg Yolk - slightly beaten
1 Pandan Leaf
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
- Mix all into a pot & cook until boiled.
- Chill before serving.
*********************************************** 

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION

Resepi ni Along dah simpan lebih setahun. Dari mula nampak memang terus masuk list & bila buat tapai baru2 ni pun dok tertangguh sampai 4 minggu tapai dok tunggu dalam petisejuk sebab terlalu sibuk dgn macam2 hal. Kelmarin baru lah Along kesempatan mencuba puding ni. Ya Rabbi... sedap betul dan tak puas rasa nya. Terima-kasih ya Ummi kerana berkongsi ilmu - semuga mendapat keberkatan. 

Hari ni belanja member2 kat opis yg memang Along dah janjikan dari mula. Semua nya cakap sedap sesangat! Lepas ni ramai ler yg nak menapai ubi sebab tak puas makan yg sedikit saja Along bawakan. Along bawa 3 cawan, kongsi 6-7 orang mana nak cukup... hehe.

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation

Source: Ummi@Home Sweet Home

(Along dah modify sedikit sukatan & bahan - rujuk resepi asal @ link atas)

Bilangan: 9 cawan

BAHAN2:

+/- 6 ketul Tapai Ubi - buang empulur tengahnya 

½ cwn Gula
500ml Susu Segar

1 biji Telor

2 sb Tepung Jagung

1 sb Pes Pandan

CARA2:

1. Masukkan kesemua bahan2 ke dalam blender dan proses sehingga sebati.

Masukkan ke dlm bekas2 kecil & kukus 20 minit.

Sejukkan pd suhu bilik & kemudian dlm petisejuk.

2. Hidangkan dgn kuah susu & buahan koktel.

BAHAN2 KUAH SUSU:

1 tin Susu Evaporated½ cwn Gula
1 cwn Air
1 biji Kuning Telur - dipukul sikit 

1 helai Daun Pandan
1 sk Esen Vanila
- Campur kesemua bahan ke dlm periuk & masak dengan api perlahan sehingga mendidih.

- Sejukkan dlm petisejuk sebelum di hidangkan.

Lacy Crepes & Durian Gravy (Again)

 Durian is so expensive in Miri, ranging from RM18-RM25 per kg. However, yesterday we were so lucky for able to buy 9 durians for RM50 which were still very fresh - must be due to night time & the seller wanted to leave soon. We ate seven durians one go & left some for Roti Jala for today's evening tea. My hubby & children been craving for this for long time and enjoyed it so much just now with non-stop compliment to Mum (me of course...hehe).

 I've posted this few times already in the past & the reason why I'm showing it again because I wanted to show the bottle I used this time. Tested my new bottle which is a gift from my dearest friend Hana.... miss her so much & hope that she will be able to start blogging again one day.

The bottle is so easy to use, even for those who do not know how to do the lacing part. You can order the bottle from Chikmi.

Pasted the same recipe that I posted earlier herewith with BM version as well. Actually I never measure my ingredients whenever I made Roti Jala - so used to the dumping method that my Emak taught me. Sometimes even with recipe will require a bit of adjustment when you see it too runny or too thick.

By: Roz@HomeKreation
(Makes >20 pieces)
INGREDIENTS:
250g Flour
1 Egg - beaten slightly
550ml Coconut Milk
1 tbsp Sugar
½ tsp Salt
1 tbsp Pandan Paste

METHOD:
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Strained so that it is smooth & the nozzles do not get blocked.

2. Use Roti Jala mould to lace it on a flat pan - see here for the lacy shape.
(Adjust the water if necessary, i.e. if too thick it will drip and if too thin the net will be coarse)
Once cooked, lift onto a plate & roll/fold.

3. Serve with sweet durian gravy or savoury curry.

To make DURIAN GRAVY:
Place durian, coconut milk, palm sugar, a pinch of salt & Screwpine leaf in a pot.
Cook until boiled.
*******************************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION

Saja jer ulang tayang sebab nak tunjuk botol acuan baru yg Along dapat dari besan tersayang Hana. Rindu sesangat dengan Hana yg dah lama menyepi. Di harap Hana akan muncul lagi suatu hari nanti. Senang sangat nak buat roti jala menggunakan botol ni. Kalau sesiapa nak beli botol ni, boleh lah order dari Chikmi.

Resepi dah ada sebelum ni dalam BI, jadi kat sini Along bubuh versi BM pula.

Roti Jala & Kuah Durian

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation

(Bilangan >20 ketul)
BAHAN2:
250g Tepung Gandum
1 bj Telur - pukul sedikit
550ml Santan
1 sb Gula
½ st Garam
1 sb Pes Pandan

CARA2:
1. Campurkan kesemua bahan2 di dalam blender.

Tapis supaya adunan yg berketul tidak menyumbat lubang acuan roti jala.

2. Tuangkan ke dlm botol acuan roti jala & jalakan ke atas kuali leper yg di minyakkan sedikit.
Tengok cara menjala kat sini.

(Jika terlalu cair, loretan roti jala akan jadi kasar tetapi jika terlalu pekat ia akan menitik & tidak menjalur. Tambah air atau tepung jika perlu)
Alihkan ke atas pinggan apabila masak  lipat/gulung.

3. Hidangkan dgn kuah durian atau kari pedas.

CARA MEMBUAT KUAH DURIAN:
Letakkan durian, santan, gula, gula melaka, secubit garam & daun pandan ke dlm periuk. Masak sehingga mendidih.

Grilled Stingray in Green Rica-Rica Sauce

The sauce idea is from Majalah Sedap which recipe I have modified to suit my own taste. It is verrrry delicious in my own opinion (my two boys do not compliment this time - I know they don't fancy the Kafir lime leaf smell). I truely enjoyed the dinner....

By: Roz@HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
1 piece Stingray
1 Kasturi Lime
1/4 tsp White Pepper Powder
10 Shallots*
10 Green Chilies*
2 Red Chilies*
4 cm Ginger* (* blend) 
1 tsp chopped Chili Padi
1 Tomato - chopped 
7 Kaffir Lime Leaves - remove mid part 
1 tbsp Tamarind Juice
Salt & Sugar

METHOD:
1. Marinate fish with salt, lime & pepper powder for about 15 minutes.

2. Heat up some oil & stir fry blended ingredients* until fragrant.
Add in the rest of the ingredients & stir for another few minutes.

3. Pour some of the cooked sauce onto fish & cook on a flat pan.
Place the fish either onto a non-stick pan or line with a piece of banana leaf.
Flip once to ensure both sides are cooked evenly.
Serve with the remaining sauce.
*********************************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION

Idea daripada Majalah Sedap tapi Along dah modify jadi hijau dan mengikut cita-rasa sendiri. Ikan nya pula, Along guna Ikan Pari, memang sesuai dengan perisa sambal ni.

Ikan Bakar Rica-Rica

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation

BAHAN2:

1 keping Ikan Pari

1 biji Limau Kasturi

1/4 st Lada Sulah

10 ulas Bwg Merah*

10 bj Cili Hijau*

2 bj Cili Merah*

4 cm Halia* (* blend) 

1 st Cili Padi cincang

1 bj Tomato - cincang

7 helai Daun Limau Purut - buang urat tengah nya

1 sb Air Asam Jawa
Garam & Gula

CARA2:

1. Perap ikan dgn garam, jus limau & serbuk lada sulah.

2. Panaskan sedikit minyak & tumis bhn2 blend* sehingga wangi.
Masukkan kesemua bhn2 yg lain & masak beberapa minit.

3. Ratakan separuh dari sambal yg di masak tadi keatas ikan & masak di atas kuali yg tidak melekat atau pun alas dgn daun pisang.
Alihkan sekali supaya masak di kedua2 bahagian ikan.
Hidangkan dgn sambal yg selebih nya.

Some science instead of economics

I am an amateur economist and economics is rather  entertainment for me. My profession is geophysics and seismology.  We have started an important study and here is an extended abstract (https://na22.nnsa.doe.gov/prod/researchreview/2011/PAPERS/06-01.PDF pdf) presented in September 2011.

ANALYSIS OF THE 2008 CHINESE EARTHQUAKE AFTERSHOCKS USING CROSS-CORRELATION

Abstract

Our objective is to assess the performance of a cross-correlation technique as applied to automatic and interactive processing of aftershock sequences at the International Data Centre (IDC). This technique allows a flexible approach  to time windows, frequency bands, correlation thresholds and other parameters controlling the flux of detections. For array stations, we used vertical channels to calculate a unique cross-correlation coefficient. All detections obtained by cross-correlation were then used to build events according to IDC definitions. To investigate the influence of all defining parameters on the final bulletin, we selected the aftershock sequence of the March 20, 2008, earthquake in China with mb(IDC) = 5.41. As templates, fragments of P- and Pn-waves from two sets of the IDC
Reviewed Event Bulletin (REB) events were selected: all 19 events from the second and third hour after the main shock and 50 events from the entire sequence with mb between 3.0 and 4.0. By varying the threshold of correlation coefficient and F-statistics which were applied to original waveforms and to the cross-correlation time series, we obtained several bulletins with different numbers of events, which could be compared to the original REB and also checked manually. These events were split into four categories: (1) new events having a counterpart (origin time within 10 sec) in the REB, (2) new valid events not having a counterpart in the REB, (3) valid REB events not having counterparts in any bulletin created by cross-correlation, and (4) bogus (invalid) events created by crosscorrelation
and which are in the REB.

No Longer an Urban Problem, Poverty Surges in Suburbs

According to a New York Times article, more than half of those living in poverty in metropolitan areas live in suburban areas. The article lists at least nine metropolitan populations of which more than 50% live in the suburbs. Over the past ten years, these nine metropolitan areas have shifted to the majority of their poor being concentrated in the suburbs. The Detroit-Warren area has a larger share of its poor population living the the suburbs than any other metropolitan area, with 59% of its poor population living in the suburbs.

According to the article, tackling suburban poverty presents a unique set of challenges. Suburbs lack the relatively large number of social assistance programs which exist in urban areas. In addition, the lack of public transportation in suburban areas makes any social programs less accessible than they might be in urban areas.

Over the past ten years, the number of poor residents in suburbs has increased by five million. Midwestern suburbs were among those most affected. The article cites a recent analysis by the Brookings Institution to show that recently the rise in suburban poor has been the most pronounced in areas most affected by the housing collapse such as Cape Coral, Florida and Riverside, California.

Overall, a majority (55%) of the metropolitan poor now live in suburbs. Ten years ago, a little less than half (49%) of the metropolitan poor lived in the suburbs. Although growth of poverty in the suburbs has been more pronounced than in urban areas, the poverty rate in suburbs is still far below that in urban areas. In 2010, the suburban poverty rate was 11.4%. The urban poverty rate was 20.9%.

JVSF cf

Disproportionate Number of Native American Children in Foster Care

A recent report on a three-part NPR News investigation into the removal of Native American children from their families discusses the disproportionate number of Native American children in foster care, especially in South Dakota and the surrounding region.  According to the article, the large Native American representation in foster care is likely the results of the financial incentive that states have to remove Native American children, as the federal government provides each state “thousands of dollars for every child it takes,”and provides greater economic incentives for Native American children.  Furthermore, while states are obligated to do their best to place Native American children with relatives or tribal members according to the Indian Child Welfare Act, 90% of the Native American children in family foster care are in non-native homes or in group care.  The map related to the report shows the disproportionality index, which “gauges the level at which Native American children are present in the foster care system compared with the level at which they are present in the general child population” for each state.  A disproportionality index greater than 1 indicates that Native American children are overrepresented, and as the map shows, the states with the highest disproportionality indices are largely concentrated in the North West and Central North West regions of the US and include Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

BL cf

Despite Warnings, Children's Screen Time Increases

Common Sense Media released a report Tuesday showing that children younger than eight are spending more time in front of screens than ever before, according to a New York Times article. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit group based in San Francisco, found that almost half of families with annual incomes of $75,000 or more are downloading certain virtual applications geared towards their young children. However, the use of these apps is much less common in lower income families, with one in eight families with annual incomes of $30,000 or less downloading them. More than a third of low-income parents surveyed reported that they did not know what an "app" was. Common Sense Media refers to this phenomenon as the "app gap."

According to the study, half of children under eight have access to a mobile device including a smart phone, video iPod, iPad or a similar tablet. Time spent watching television is still responsible for the majority of children's time spent in front of screens; about half of children under two watch TV or DVDs on most days. These children devote, on average, two hours a day to these activities. The survey finds that children under two spend, on average, fifty-three minutes a day watching television or DVDs. The time devoted to being read to by parents was about half as long (twenty-three minutes per day).

Additionally, almost a third of children under two now have televisions in their own bedrooms. This has increased substantially over the past decade, with less than 20% of children ages six months to twenty-three months having televisions in their bedrooms in 2005. Children of families with annual incomes below $30,000 were more than three times as likely to have televisions in their bedrooms as children of families with incomes above $75,000. In families with annual incomes below $30,000, 64% of children under eight had televisions in their bedrooms. In families with annual incomes above $75,000 the portion of children under eight with televisions in their bedrooms decreased to 20%. 

Even though the American Academy of Pediatricians has warned against screen time in children under two, only 14% of parents surveyed reported that their children's doctor had ever discussed media exposure with them.

JVSF cf

College Grads Pessimistic

In one of today’s Wall Street Journal columns, David Wessel discusses the remarkable pessimism among those with a bachelor’s degree regarding the future of the US economy despite their clear economic advantage over those without bachelor’s degrees. As the first chart from the article shows, four-year college grads have lower unemployment rates than high school grads (4.2% and 9.7% respectively) and higher median weekly wages ($1,072 and $636). Despite these figures, white male 4-year college grads were actually more pessimistic about the future of the economy than the population overall, with 80% believing the U.S. economy is “going in the wrong direction” (compared with only 74% of the population overall) and 33% expecting the economy to get worse in the next 12 months (compared with only 32% of the overall population). While 4-year college grads may be better off than those holding less than a bachelor’s degree, their pessimism may not be entirely unwarranted. As the second graph from the article shows (also below), the mean income of households headed by a person with a bachelor’s degree peaked in 1999 at $99,431 (in 2010 inflation adjusted dollars) but plummeted to $90,636 last year. According to Wessel, things are worse for recent college grads, for which the unemployment rate is currently 10.7% and he goes on to express his disappointment that “having a college degree no longer guarantees a rising wage or a shot at the American dream.”



BL cf

Yam Stalk & Smoked Fish in Coconut Broth

I came back from my business trip last midnight and started working today. This dish was cooked prior to my trip which was not in time to share before then. I like any type of kampung dish.... I bought fresh yam stalks from the open market & glad it was not the itchy type after been cooked. There were few times I was unlucky in buying itchy yam stalks despite been assured by the seller.... so be careful when buying yam stalk but without trying you will not know. Does any one has tips in choosing sweet & non-itchy yam stalks?

By: Roz@HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
1 bunch Yam Stalks - peel & cut using plastic gloves
Smoked Fish
1/2 pot Coconut Milk
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
3 Shallots*
2 Green Chilli* 
Chilli Padi* (* pounded) 
1 Lemongrass - bruised
1 Turmeric leaf - torn
Salt

METHOD:
1. Boil yam stalk until soft & drain.
2. Place all in a pot & cook until boiled.
Stirring all the time to prevent coconut milk from curdling.
3. Serve with rice.
********************

BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION

Lauk ala kampung ni tak jemu makan.... Kalau nasib tak baik terkena batang keladi yg gatal tapi nasib kali ni manis & tak gatal. Kalau kena yg gatal tu, sakit tekak lepas menelan & nak garu kat dalam tekak memang tak boleh, siksa jadi nya.... Kalau siapa2 ada tips cara nak tahu yg gatal atau tidak, tolong share dgn Along kat sini ya.

Gulai Lemak Batang Keladi & Ikan Salai

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation

BAHAN2:
1 ikat Batang Keladi - kupas kulit batang & potong2 menggunakan sarung tgn plastik
Ikan Salai

1/2 periuk Santan
1 st Serbuk Kunyit
3 ulas Bwg Merah*
2 bj Cili Hijau* 

Cilli Padi* (* tumbuk) 

1 btg Serai - ketuk
1 helai Daun Kunyit - koyak2an
Garam

CARA2:
1. Rebus batang keladi sehingga lembut & tapis.
2. Letakkan kesemua bahan ke dlm periuk & masak sehingga menggelegak.

Kacau selalu supaya santan tidak pecah kepala.
3. Hidangkan dgn nasi putih

Undergraduates Continue to Face Rising Tuition

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Kevin Helliker discusses this year’s hike in tuition for undergraduate programs.  As the graph from the article (below) shows, the average tuition for in-state students at public four-year program colleges and universities increased from $7, 613 to $8,244 (8.3%) from the 2010-11 school year to the 2011-12 school year and it increased from $19,648 to $20,770 (5.7%) for out-of-state students.  Tuition also climbed for public two-year in-state programs by 8.7% and for private nonprofit four-year programs by 4.5%.  According to Helliker, the “the markedly quicker” increase in tuition experienced by public schools compared to that of private schools is part of a “decade-long trend” in which the price gap between the two has narrowed.  While some might argue that this is placing an ill-timed burden on students and their families, Helliker points out that large increases in Pell Grants and veteran benefits and the implementation of the American Opportunity Tax Credit has substantially offset the effects of tuition increases.

BL cf

United Nations Releases Population Projections for Year 2100

According to The Guardian, the world's population will reach seven billion by the end of this year.  The population is predicted to reach ten billion in the next 90 years, according to the most recent release by the United Nations.  The UN Population Division's analysis concludes that it will take 13 years for the population to reach eight billion.  Five years later, the population is estimated to reach nine billion, and 22 years after the ninth billion citizen is born, the population is projected to reach ten billion.

Countries with high fertility rates will likely contribute substantially to these population increases.  According to the United Nations, these countries include 39 countries in African, 9 in Asia, and 4 in Latin America.  The United Nations identifies all European countries (with the exception of Iceland and Ireland) as low-fertility countries.  According to the report, the United Nations's projections anticipate a decline in Europe's overall population by 2100.  Low-fertility countries are characterized by women not having enough children to guarantee that, on average, each woman will be replaced by a daughter who lives long enough to reproduce.  

China is predicted to reach its largest population in 2027 with 1.395 billion people.  This population is expected to decline to 941 million by 2100.  India will reach its peak population in 2062 with 1.718 billion people and will decrease to 1.6 billion by the year 2100.  

JVSF cf

iPad fundraising [UPDATED]

It looks like some people have been having some trouble when publishing their BennuGD iOS games in Apple's App Store as they appear to have some problems with iOS5 running in iPad 2's.
Those problems cannot seem to be replicated in the iOS emulator and I don't know anybody who can lend me one. Also, those things are really expensive, so I cannot afford to buy one.

Some users have suggested that I set up a fundraising to buy one, as they'd be willing to donate some money, so that's what I'm doing.Right now an iPad costs €479 in Spain. Right now I can only afford to pay the first €50 €150, so I'd need the rest from users willing to see the iOS port advance.
You can see a live preview of how things are doing below:

Donations average: €26.03

If you want to donate, I believe the best way to do it is through Paypal, so you can donate in € by clicking the button below:

If you want to donate in $, please use the button below:

(See update 3)

This'll allow me to make the iOS port advance further and ensure it works just fine with the iPad, so your games will run flawlessly there. It'll also make the iOS port go forward faster, as I'll have more hardware to test it in.

I'll be raising money during 3 months (max). The idea is that if I don't get enough money to buy one by that time I'll re-donate the collected money to the BennuGD project.
However, if you'd like to get your money back in case not enough money is collected (or if you want to give it any other use, say donate it to some other open source project or some entity of any kind) please let me know.

So... thanks, let's see how this works.

[Update] I've increased my part in the fundraising up to €150.
[Update2]: SplinterGU gave me an idea yesterday by e-mail, so I'm setting up a small experiment that goes as follows:
If you donate more than the average user donation (not including mine) as published at the time of your donation in this page you'll get access to the next binary version of BennuGD for iOS two weeks before public release.
New features in the next binary version of BennuGD for iOS include:

• mod_multi integration for multitouch support (up to 10 fingers) in your games.
• mod_fmodex integration to be able to leverage the power of this industry-grade sound library that greatly exceeds the power of BennuGD's standard sound library, as it allows you to play several music files at once, 3D sound support, pitch control in playback, spectrum analysis... Check out the FMOD homepage to see a list of games using FMODEx for sound playback, it's amazing. You'll be able to use that same power on your games (see their sales page for licensing terms).
• mod_sqlite to save and read game data and preferences easily using iOS's preferred file format.
• The latest and greates in BennuGD code.
• You'll also be helping Android users as most of the code applies to them, too.

I've started looking at how to integrate some other  new really cool feature, but that'll take longer to implement.

All the users that have already donated will get access to this early release and -of course- full source code will be published when it's released to the general public.
[Update 3]: I got it! I'll soon post a couple of photos of the thing in action and will start seeding preview binaries for those that donated. Thanks to everyone :)

New BennuGD iPad game: Explodorum HD

Today xDan is presenting his new BennuGD iPad game called Explodorum HD with his indie development group Garnet Games and we're happy to celebrate :)

In xDan's own words:

Explodorum is a new and unique bomb blasting logic puzzle game that will relax and twist your mind in equal measure. It's designed especially for iPad with crisp high resolution graphics and full use of the available display.

Hope you like it!

Real real GDP

We have already reported that real GDP in the United States is biased by the change in definition of the GDP deflator around 1978. (According to “Concepts and Methods of the U.S. NIPA” the growth rate of real GDP is the growth rate of nominal GDP reduced by the overall change in prices as expressed by the GDP deflator or the economy-wide price index.) Figure 1 shows that before 1978 the GDP deflator and CPI were similar and their difference is negligible since 1929. In 1978, a new definition of the GDP deflator was introduced and the curves coinciding before 1978 started to deviate. In 2010, the deviation was approximately 20%.

A reasonable assumption on the new definition of the GDP deflator is that it should also be applied to the time series before 1978. This would reduce the bias introduced in the time series around 1978. Figure 1 demonstrates (dashed line) that the growth rate of the CPI after 1978 is approximately 20% higher that the rate of the GDP deflator growth. Without loss of generality, one may assume that the GDP deflator had been growing at a rate approximately 20% lower than the CPI before 1978. In Figure 1, green line represents the GDP deflator before 1978. Since the growth rate of the GDP deflator was lower the over all change between 1929 and 2010 is also smaller than that of the CPI.   

The difference between the GDP deflator and CPI has an immediate consequence as related to real GDP. When applied to the real GDP estimates published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis,   the corrected GDP deflator provides a more accurate time series. One must use this corrected time series in economics and econometric research in order to avoid the apparent bias.

To begin with, we have updated our comparison of real GDP and real GDP per capita growth. This comparison has demonstrated that the fall in real GDP (recession) has actually returned the growth trajectory to the long-term trend and there is no output gap as estimated from real GDP time series. Figure 2 depicts two old and two new (corrected) curves. One can see that the new curves are above the old ones since the corrected GDP deflator is lower than the CPI and the updated real GDP estimates are higher than the original estimates. The corrected real GDP curve implies a much larger output gap that makes this hypothesis truly void. Essentially, the growth rate between 1930 and 1960 was so high that it can never be repeated.  As a result, the Solow model (constant returns to scale) behind the output gap is likely to be wrong.

Figure 1. Cumulative growth rate (the sum of annual inflation rates) of various definitions of inflation since 1929. 

Figure 2. Old and corrected (corr.) estimates of real GDP and real GDP per capita. The former estimates are below the new ones. 

Update 28.10.2011. Corrected table of real GDP per capita and real GDP in 2005 US $

 

2010 42270 13108145194

2009 41377 12722814211

2008 43242 13181625195

2007 43791 13225891467

2006 43399 12978410715

2005 42681 12643309646

2004 41792 12265967955

2003 40769 11857542216

2002 40108 11556298822

2001 39769 11347579296

2000 39750 11226180266

1999 38592 10779826176

1998 37238 10283422652

1997 36102 9854329716

1996 34977 9433786578

1995 34112 9093849856

1994 33671 8870793305

1993 32747 8523454654

1992 32255 8287019110

1991 31614 8015097420

1990 32112 8033812272

1989 31877 7885955399

1988 31069 7613800209

1987 30115 7313216945

1986 29443 7086429569

1985 28717 6849176802

1984 27823 6577190262

1983 26186 6136243938

1982 25282 5870935476

1981 26030 5987108240

1980 25640 5838894640

1979 26010 5855007060

1978 25503 5677707387

1977 24150 5320037949

1976 23103 5038386795

1975 21814 4711459533

1974 21689 4639185468

1973 21796 4619427179

1972 20696 4344618556

1971 19729 4097469291

1970 19161 3929633433

1969 19185 3889478681

1968 18673 3748418138

1967 17905 3558699243

1966 17580 3456136296

1965 16656 3237016460

1964 15817 3035727724

1963 15129 2864008171

1962 14684 2739924324

1961 14039 2579516585

1960 13910 2514340896

1959 13838 2451111168

1958 13078 2277479719

1957 13353 2287102029

1956 13298 2237003680

1955 13280 2194815712

1954 12594 2045223652

1953 12885 2055915430

1952 12487 1959856824

1951 12096 1866190324

1950 11400 1729138416

1949 10677 1592940944

1948 10795 1582831140

1947 10309 1485823522

1946 10482 1482021159

1945 11855 1658907921

1944 12093 1673619102

1943 11231 1535740268

1942 9643 1300405392

1941 8175 1090577563

1940 7044 930616096

1939 6542 857231031

1938 6120 795393311

1937 6356 819695449

1936 6072 778270922

1935 5389 686317930

1934 4963 627750020

1933 4535 570028178

1932 4683 585161480

1931 5488 681318834

1930 5933 730845272

1929 6562 799800744

Grilled Luncheon Chicken for Breakfast

 Not so much about cooking and recipe this time as this is just sharing a quick breakfast meal that can be prepared using canned luncheon chicken. It is halal & bought it from Brunei. Slice it thinly and grill with some olive oil in a raised ridges pan. Serve it with toasted bread, baked beans & scrambled eggs.

This is how it looks like in the original packing

Our breakfast set....

New Climate Change Data

A recent article in The Economist discusses findings released October 20th by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature group, which includes this month's Nobel prize-winning physicist Saul Perlmutter and is led by astrophysicist Richard Muller. The group started a new climate change measurement project 18 months ago in order to "address the concerns of what Dr Muller terms 'legitimate skeptics'" of climate change who have qualms with inconsistencies in available temperature data that may exaggerate temperature changes. One way the group attempted to minimize possible exaggerating effects of inconsistencies was by developing an algorithm that weights data points in such a way that "awkward" data and "outlandish readings" are still included in the data but also don't distort the ultimate trends (as opposed to simply omitting so-called awkward data). The group also developed a "more nuanced heat map" that utilizes "basic spatial correlations in weather to estimate the temperature at points between weather stations." However, even after these innovations and addressing other possible biasing factors, the group found climate change trends similar to those published by other climate research institutions, including NASA, suggesting that existing temperature data is more or less accurate. Whether or not this will actually mitigate climate change skepticism is yet to be determined, as the newly published findings are currently being peer reviewed. The graph from the article (below) compares the land-surface average temperature anomaly measures found by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Group, NASA, NOAA and Hadley CRU. As the graph shows, all sources exhibit the same general upward trend between 1800 and 2006. Furthermore, most climate research institutions, including Berkeley Earth, estimate about a 0.9 degree Celsius increase in land temperatures over the past 50 years.

BL cf

Want to Think Like an Innovator?

by Virgil Carter

Want to be an effective innovator?  How do innovators think? Harvard Business Review reported on an interview on the subject by contributing Editor Bronwyn Fryer.  Fryer conducted a question-and-answer session with Professors Jeff Dyer of Brigham Young University and Hal Gregersen of Insead to explore how the "Innovators' DNA works”.

Dyer and Gregersen conducted a six-year study surveying 3,000 creative executives and conducting an additional 500 individual interviews. The study found five "discovery skills" that distinguish the executives.

• Associating:  a cognitive skill that allows creative people to make connections across seemingly unrelated questions, problems, or ideas
• Questioning:  an ability to ask "what if", "why", and "why not" questions that challenge the status quo and open up the bigger picture
• Closely observe details:  particularly the details of people's behavior.
• Experiment:  trying on new experiences and exploring new worlds
• Ability to experiment:  always trying on new experiences and exploring new worlds
• Networking:  connecting with smart people who have little in common with them, but from whom they can learn

“Overall, associating is the key skill because new ideas aren't created without connecting problems or ideas in ways that they haven't been connected before”, according to Dyer.

Dyer commented that one might summarize all of the skills they’ve noted in one word: "inquisitiveness." “I spent 20 years studying great global leaders, and that was the big common denominator. It's the same kind of inquisitiveness you see in small children”, he commented.

Dyer asked the executives in their study to tell them about how they came up with a strategic or innovative idea. That one was easy for the creative executives, but surprisingly difficult for the more traditional ones. Interestingly, all the innovative entrepreneurs also talked about being triggered, or having what one might call "eureka" moments. In describing how they came up with a product or business idea, they would use phrases like "I saw someone doing this, or I overheard someone say that, and that's when it hit me."

In conclusion, Dyer added, “We also believe that the most innovative entrepreneurs were very lucky to have been raised in an atmosphere where inquisitiveness was encouraged. We were stuck by the stories they told about being sustained by people who cared about experimentation and exploration.”

Squid Curry (Kari Sotong)

 Hi everyone.... sorry for disappearing for almost two weeks. Just needed a break & rest for a while after hard works at office & home and also after an embarrassing fall at one club causing bruises on both knees and painful arms... In addition, I was away for couple of days in Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort for company activities.... such a fun event with me on 'flying fox', hanging bridge across jungle and water theme park...!! So I'm now back for a while before making another trip to KL this week.

Here is squid curry that I mentioned earlier (which was two weeks ago....) that I cooked along the grilled Terubuk.

By: Roz@HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
500g Squids
I Brinjal - cut 
4-5 tbsp Vegetable Oil
4 Shallots*
2 cloves Garlic* (*sliced)
1 sprigs Curry Leaves
3-4 tbs Curry Powder - add enough water to form thick paste
1 bowl Coconut Milk
1 tbsp Tamarind - add water to produce tamarind juice
Salt

METHOD:
1. Heat up oil in pot & fry sliced shallots, garlic, curry leaves until onion is golden brown.
Add in curry paste & stir until oil surface out from the paste. 
(Add a bit of water if necessary to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot)

2. Add in coconut milk & tamarind juice.
When boiled, add in squids, brinjal and salt.
Boil until well cooked.

3. Serve with white rice.
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BAHASA MALAYSIA VERSION

Assalamualaikum semua kekawan. Lama tak bersiaran... tuan rumah banyak hal lak kendian2 ni...
Ini lauk biasa2 jer ikut mood & selera di kala badan keletihan & nak cepat.....

By: AlongRoz@HomeKreation

BAHAN2:

500g Sotong kecil

I biji Terung - potong2 

4-5 sb Minyak
4 ulas Bwg Merah*
2 ulas Bwg Putih* (*hiris)
1 tangkai Daun Kari
3-4 sb Serbuk Kari - bancuh dgn sedikit air
1 mangkuk Santan
1 sb Asam Jawa - perah dgn sedikit air
Garam

CARA2:
1. Panaskan minyak & tumis bawang merah/putih & daun kari sehingga garing.
Masukkan pes kari & kacau sehingga berminyak.

Masukkan sedikit air jika perlu supaya tidak hangus.

2. Masukkan santan & air asam jawa.

Masukkan sotong & terung apabila mendidih.

Kacau sehingga sotong & terung masak sempurna.

3. Hidangkan dgn nas putih.