Argentina May Import Beef First Time as Herds Die

I would say that besides Kobe in Japan, perhaps the only other country at top of the best steak in the world is Argentina. It is absolutely brilliant, loved the place since my mum taught me about the pampas, the soft sweet grass and the huge herds of cows. So it was with disbelief that I read that Argentina may have to import its beef. I quote:

Argentina, the biggest beef- consuming nation, may resort to imports for the first time within two years as a drought kills cattle and export controls prompt ranchers to quit the business.
Pastures have dried up and forage prices gained so much that farmers are allowing livestock to die in the fields, said Arturo Llavallol, a director of Buenos Aires-based farm group The Rural Society. Ranchers are killing higher than usual numbers of breeding stock, compromising future output, he said.
The nation’s herd has dwindled 7 percent since 2006, when the government restricted beef exports to boost supplies in the local market, Llavallol said in a telephone interview from his farm in Saavedra, southwest Buenos Aires province. The country may need imports within a couple of years, he said.

Argentina is being ruined by basic economic incompetence. The ruling family is frankly stupid, starting from the debt crisis, then the export restrictions, then the very silly and clearly stupid grab for the pensions, this country, which was supposed to be the jewel of the world, has now slowly got completely buggered up. At the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina was one of the top 10 richest nation’s in the world. And now? between stupid left wing governments  and even worse bellicose right wing governments, they have totally mucked up the country. Read this lament.

And all this while the chances of getting a good beef steak are slowly reducing…

Interethnic marriages – how are the children impacted?

Quite an interesting question, no? And a partial answer is given here. I quote some interesting bits:

As interethnic marriages are becoming more common in immigrant countries research  on how these marriages affect the development of human capital of their children is growing. The findings are mixed. Chiswick and DebBurman (2004) and Ramakrishnan (2004) find that children from couples with one US born parent attain more years of education than children from couples with two foreign born parents.

The two studies differ in the importance of the gender of the US born parent. Chiswick and DebBurman (2004) find that having a US born father (+0.19 years) is more important than having a US born mother (+0.13 years), but according to Ramakrishnan (2004) having a US born mother (+0.26 years) is more important than having a US born father (+0.14 years). Furtado (2005) finds that having a US born mother even has a negative effect on the educational attainment of children. Children with a foreign born father and a US born mother have a higher high-school dropout rate than children from a foreign born mother and a US born father or two foreign born parents.

Besides this, the authors find that:

We find that children from marriages with native mothers have a higher educational attainment than children from ethnic homogeneous Moluccan couples or couples with a native father. In raising Moluccan children, mothers traditionally play a dominant role, and for native Dutch mothers it is easier to support their children in their educational career because they have more experience with and knowledge about the Dutch educational system and possibly also better language skills than Moluccan mothers from the first and second generation.

This was quite interesting. I never thought about it in this way at all. Always thought that there was a difference between the native born kids and foreign born kids, but as it seems, the impact of the parents is important. I have seen that in my own case as well. We missed out on many opportunities for our own kids because we did not know the in’s and out’s of the British educational system. For example, in hindsight, we should have worked much harder on getting our son into the grammar school stream and for that, we should have bought a house near the damn school. But we will learn from this for our little princess.

Proposing that polygamy returns

I did not know that Tunisia (besides Turkey), a Muslim country, had banned polygamy way back in 1957. It is actually quite an interesting social phenomena from two perspectives. The first is obviously from the religious perspective (in Islam, for example). Evidence of a patriarchal society, no doubt. I wonder what they would make of a situation like Draupadi, one of the demi-goddesses in Mahabharat, a mythological Hindu epic, who undertook polyandry, marriage of one woman to multiple husbands. Fall off the planet at the very idea, eh? Anyway, here’s an interesting article about the background of women’s rights in Tunisia.

But there is now a proposal to legalise polygamy again. And just read the comments on that site. I quote another site.

"An increase in the number of unmarried women and in a state of moral degeneration and excessive freedom favouring extra-marital relations," makes it necessary to "authorise polygamy", which is "permitted by Islam" and on which the prophet Mohammed "provided us a good example".

One of the supporters was Samira Laouati, a married woman according to whom the regulations adopted by former President Habib Bourguiba go against the will of Tunisian women. And she believes that the current law encourages moral decline and divorce. In Tunisia last year a record number of 9,127 divorces were recorded compared to 16,000 marriages. Among the main causes of divorce is domestic violence, followed by cultural and social differences. Among the least frequent causes are sterility, handicaps, loss of virginity before marriage, deceit, lack of trust, and jealousy. Abolishing the law that prohibits polygamy, in Laouatìs opinion, would contribute to "fighting against growing trends of arrogant women with too much freedom, who don't respect marriage or any other rules". Polygamy would put them "on the right path".

Interesting arguments, eh? Unfortunately, with the increase in ostensible piety in the world, i am willing to bet that it will get legalised in Tunisia sooner or later.

How not to use Powerpoint

Thanks, Dan :)

Loan Sharking in the UK

76.9% APR!!!!, go choke! but wait

1737% APR, that is totally amazing. Unbelievable! Took these photographs off the Metro newspaper. Liquidity is there, lending is there, just are you happy with the rates? Microlending anybody?

Holy Cow in the Holy Land!

You couldn't make this up even if you tried. First time I have heard about Hindu’s burying a damn cow, holy or not.

BEIRUT, AUGUST 20 - After days of controversy between Lebanon and Israel, a sacred cow that died in the disputed territory between the two countries, monitored by Indian UNIFIL (the UN force in southern Lebanon) soldiers has finally been buried, "with all honours" according to Hindu ritual. Beirut daily an Nahar reported today that the animal carcass was buried near the Hassan Gate, a disputed area not far from the hills of Kfar Shuba in the eastern area of the interim border, by Indian soldiers after they "prayed for the cow, sprinkled it with salt, and then covered it with a white cloth".

The animal fell into a small depression in the land about a week ago after crossing from the zone occupied by Israel and entering into Lebanese territory controlled by UNIFIL soldiers in search of water. The carcass then was preyed upon by birds and wild animals, but no one from either of the countries had any intention of moving it. It was then buried by Indian UNIFIL soldiers, who are almost all Hindu, making the cow a sacred animal to them that must be buried with all honours.

Truly the mind boggles. This middle east area is truly and completely buggered up. Talk about being stupid…

KOSOVO:YOUNG; 73% UNEMPLOYED, ONE THIRD PREPARED TO EMIGRATE

Now here’s a bit of an issue for Europe. On the doorstep of Europe, in a place which saw vicious civil war, thousands dead and billions of Euro’s spent on trying to improve the economy, we end up with a situation that 3 our of 4 young Kosovars are unemployed and 1/3 are looking to immigrate.

This is a double whammy, you get the picture that the original investment in Kosovo has not worked and on the other hand, as usual, the immigration problem is going to increase in western Europe. The far right has already picked up this story and is running with it on the blogs and mailing lists. I quote:

In Kosovo, 73% of young people are unemployed, and a survey has shown that a third of them are prepared to leave the country in search of fortune elsewhere. According to daily newspaper Koha Ditore, there is an increasing trend amongst young people to emigrate. The paper believes that this shows the authorities' inability to respond to the requests and needs of young Kosovars.

Not sure this has reached the upper reaches of the European political scene, who are busy being undemocratic over the Irish constitutional vote. That’s another interesting exercise. We, the political heads of Europe, are fully democratic, you will keep on voting till you vote the way we want you to vote. Like Henry Ford, eh? you can have any colour you want as long as its black. Bah!

Spain removes religious symbols from public buildings

Quite an interesting story here. Good as well. Religious symbology in this day and age on public buildings can and do cause issues. This will also show up the single religion countries as well as the religious fundamentalists that they cannot come and bang on about religious rights and shove them down my throat and be a pain in the butt and and and. I quote:

 

The Spanish Government is to abolish all religious symbols from schools and public buildings, with the exception of symbols included in works which have historic, artistic or cultural value, said Justice Minister Francisco Caamano in an interview with Europa Press, cited by the media today. The law, which will include the principle of freedom of conscience for the first time, above all where conscientious objections are concerned, will be put forward by the executive after the summer break. ''Our idea is that no religious symbols should exist in public schools, that there is a clear separation between religion and public life and the secularism of the State'', said the minister. ''Although symbols and effigies, which make up part of our heritage, have historical-artistic value and are kept inside our public centres, will not be destroyed''.

The law will not affect rooted traditions such as nativity scenes, and it will not be forbidden for students to wear a crucifix to school.The Spanish Government is to abolish all religious symbols from schools and public buildings, with the exception of symbols included in works which have historic, artistic or cultural value, said Justice Minister Francisco Caamano in an interview with Europa Press, cited by the media today.

The law, which will include the principle of freedom of conscience for the first time, above all where conscientious objections are concerned, will be put forward by the executive after the summer break. ''Our idea is that no religious symbols should exist in public schools, that there is a clear separation between religion and public life and the secularism of the State'', said the minister. ''Although symbols and effigies, which make up part of our heritage, have historical-artistic value and are kept inside our public centres, will not be destroyed''. The law will not affect rooted traditions such as nativity scenes, and it will not be forbidden for students to wear a crucifix to school.

Spain’s relationship with the church is structural, very tightly tied in and has a very long history behind it. Here’s an interesting article on it. Spain’s religious and ethnic makeup is also changing. Only 3.2 per cent of Spain's population was foreign-born in 1998. In 2007 it was 13.4 per cent. This kind of separation of state from church will definitely help in managing this transition.

Kick in the pants

Some time back on a mailing list, we were discussing violence against kids. As I mentioned there jokingly, my mum claims that she has used almost every kitchen implement to tan my backside for being a horrible kid. But corporal punishment in the west, by and large, is now illegal. Here’s a good reasoned short debate on corporal punishment for children. Here’s another site with some good evidence on this issue.

Seems like the consensus is that while children should not be physically punished as a rule, there are exceptions where a spanking might be appropriate. How about at home? good article here. US and EU legality of corporal punishment. Red: corporal punishment not prohibited, blue only prohibited in schools and green, you will not touch the child anywhere.

 

 

 

Curiously, on the wiki site, the only countries which seem to be interested in this area are the OECD countries. Other countries from say Africa, Asia, Middle East, Latam or poorer countries…, hmmm. is concern for kids a function of rich countries only?

Which brings me to the question, if I threaten to kick my nephew in his pants, is that illegal? No. I quote:

It's OK to tell a teenager he'll get good kick in the pants if he doesn't behave, Italy's top court ruled Tuesday.
The Cassation Court, whose rulings set precedents, rejected the contention of the teen's mother that the warning amounted to a real threat and a form of abuse.
''The statement cannot be deemed abusive, given the type of language used by the new generation,'' said the court, upholding a previous decision by a Sardinian tribunal.
The court said Gavino S. a 55-year-old man from the city of Alghero, could not be accused of ''threatening'' his 15-year-old nephew Pietro S. and a group of his friends who were loitering in the stairs of their condominium.
The uncle's order to stop making noise and go home and ensuing threat to kick them all in the pants was judged by the judges to be ''incapable of sparking real fear'' in the youngsters.
The uncle's scolding ''was only meant to censure, albeit rudely, the behaviour'' of the youngsters, the court said.

Go work in the laundry room to earn high amounts

I am going to suggest that my son forget about his ideas about becoming a software entrepreneur or a stock broker and go become a laundry operator. Seems like being one helps you to reach the top of the earnings league. (h/t: Lahar). I quote:

Guess who is the highest paid employee at the Taj Hotel, Colaba? It is not its corporate chef Hemant Oberoi. It is not the executive director (finance) Anil Goel. It is not even the general manager and 26/11 hero Karambir Singh Kang. Ok, now, hold your breath. That employee is P P Saher, a senior operator at its laundry division. Saher draws Rs 1.5 crore per annum. That is Rs 12,50,000 a month. That is Rs 41,666 a day. That is Rs 5,208 an hour, per eight-hour shift.

This is the hotel which was attacked by the Pakistani terrorists and has been on the news.

 

He is obviously a cleaning god as he is the top fourth earning man in the company. So you have the Managing Director, the COO, the CIO and then the laundry man. Very good. Very nice. How interesting now?

btw: the laundry man is also the general secretary of the Indian Hotels Company Employees’ Union. Not that that has anything to do with it. Of course not, the very idea. Its his ability to turn a sheet inside the drier or to iron the shirt which has everything to do with his salary :)