NYS Unemployment
Wow, one of the hottest searches on Google currently is “nys unemployment” and all manner of terms relating to it, such as “new york state unemployment” and “nys dept of labor”. Is there any sudden cause or is New York state’s big government approach and insulting attitude toward business owners finally scaring them from the state or at least scaring them from hiring?
NYS unemployment search on Google Trends
For sure, these are crazy times, and New York state is suffering at least as much as most other states. Economists, regardless of their school of thought or political leanings seem to be saying the same thing – that we are experiencing a “jobless recovery” (okay, some say this is a false recovery and we are in another depression). They say that some jobs, especially in manufacturing, are gone forever. Now, anyone who has railroaded their children or themselves into a blue-collar job as your only option in life has always been wrong, but now it may condemn you to permanent or long-term unemployment.
Could it be that we are finally reaching a scary point in history of “The End of Work“? I saw this book on bookstore shelves years ago, and it made me think – will a large percentage of the population eventually have useless skills and capabilities not worth a livable wage to the economy? This would create a dependent class, which would be inevitably supported by those who did have marketable skills and capabilities.
Economic and technological evolution are inevitable, but a government that does not discourage legitimate business activity will minimize the chaos and human suffering of the transition.
| Tagged: | CommentsChatRoulette.com – Check it out, if you dare!
ChatRoulette screenshot
Chatroulette or “Chat Roulette” is a website, supposedly developed by a 17 Russian boy, that randomly brings ups webcams of the other site visitors from anywhere in the world. It is interesting because it is so random and uncontrolled, and sometimes scary for the same reason. You might randomly meet someone from Chile, Morocco, Germany, Ukraine or some one within a few hundred miles. The downside is that, since it is totally anonymous, some people exhibit the less admirable ranges of human behavior, displaying body parts and activity normally censored.
Assuming it’s true that it was developed by a 17 year old though, it is impressive brainstorm. ChatRoulette is a novel concept that could certainly be improved to minimize offensive displays and provide website ad revenue to the site owner.
So, the bottom line is, if you are an adult, curious, with a tolerance for absolutely anything you might see, go for it. But don’t let you kids on this site at all!
Visit at your own risk!: ChatRoulette.com
| Tagged: | CommentsOhio Cash For Appliances Program
Beginning Friday, March 26, 2010, Ohio residents can reserve and redeem a rebate for the purchase of the following ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis for the purchase of select, qualified ENERGY STAR® appliances at Ohio retail locations. New appliances must be purchased within 3 days of reserving your rebate, and old appliances must be recycled so they are rendered inoperable. Online purchases do not qualify for a rebate.
| Eligible ENERGY STAR® Appliances | Rebate Level ($) |
| Refrigerator | $100 |
| Clothes Washer | $150 |
| Dishwasher | $100 |
| High-Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heater | $100 |
| Electric Heat Pump Water Heater | $250 |
Ohio Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
Cash For Appliances Starts Friday In Ohio
| Tagged: | CommentsJellyfish and shrimp-like animal found under antarctic ice
Scientific researchers have discovered a kind of jellyfish and a shrimp-like animal 600 feet under an ice shelf in Antarctica, where no sunlight reaches. The discovery sheds light on just what types of lifeforms can survive where, for researchers.
However, in my estimation, just because life can survive 600 feet under an ice shelf on earth or deep underground on earth, doesn’t mean it would exist in equivalent spots on other planets and moons elsewhere in the universe. I think it would take somewhat robust success of life on a given planet or moon in more productive ecosystems to produce lifeforms that could thrive in such energy and heat starved environments. However, if a planet was more hostile, but had much, much more time for life to evolve or was even more overall stable than our planet has been, then complex life might arise in those challenging environments.
Shrimp found 600 feet below Antarctic ice
| Tagged: Tags: Antarctica | CommentsSolid State Drives
Want to learn more about solid state drives (SSD’s)? These can plug into existing computers as if they were a conventional hard drive, but without the failure-prone mechanical movements of conventional hard drives.
Solid state drives are faster and more resistant to failure, but they are more expensive. If it fits into your budget, get one – otherwise use your conventional hard drive and make those backups!
Solid state drives are tougher than conventional hard drives.
SanDisk SSD (Solid State Drive) Videos
| Tagged: Tags: Computing, Front Page News, Technology | Comments