whitebread

The economic gap between America and a rising Asia has certainly narrowed; but worrying about it is wrong for two reasons. First, even at its present growth rate, China’s GDP will take a quarter of a century to catch up with America’s; and the internal tensions that China’s rapidly changing economy has caused may well lead it to stumble before then. Second, even if Asia’s rise continues unabated, it is wrong—and profoundly unAmerican—to regard this as a problem. Economic growth, like trade, is not a zero-sum game. The faster China and India grow, the more American goods they buy. And they are booming largely because they have adopted America’s ideas. America should regard their success as a tribute, not a threat, and celebrate in it.

–The Economist

Read the full article

Well, I didn’t have to write an addon, but I will no longer be a victim of the greater theory. It turns out adblock will do it all for you. All you need to do is add the following filters:
#*(comments)
#*(comment)

Serenity at last.

Gravity

Score one for the good guys, as my pop would say.

Edit:
Well, only if you don’t read the comments.

I realize I already shared this via google reader, but I wanted to make sure everyone at least saw the link:
The Nation on George Carlin

There is a certain amount of righteous indignation I hold for this culture, because to get back to the real root of it, to get broader about it, my opinion that is my species–and my culture in America specifically–have let me down and betrayed me. I think this species had great, great promise, with this great upper brain that we have, and I think we squandered it on God and Mammon. And I think this culture of ours has such promise, with the promise of real, true freedom, and then everyone has been shackled by ownership and possessions and acquisition and status and power,” he said. “And perhaps it’s just a human weakness and an inevitable human story that these things happen. But there’s disillusionment and some discontent in me about it. I don’t consider myself a cynic. I think of myself as a skeptic and a realist. But I understand the word ‘cynic’ has more than one meaning, and I see how I could be seen as cynical. ‘George, you’re cynical.’ Well, you know, they say if you scratch a cynic you find a disappointed idealist. And perhaps the flame still flickers a little, you know?

Perhaps I haven’t been clear. I detest facebook and myspace, for the same reasons I detest all things that exploit the ignorant and/or powerless.
If you have a hard time believing that facebook, at least, is a security risk, consult an expert. Two little gems you’ll learn: Facebook’s privacy policy is 2,800 words long, and can change at any time, and
“Legally, Facebook owns all data members upload to the site.”

The number of people who wouldn’t want their backpack or purse searched but who will offer up minute details about their life for free is mind boggling.
If you want to keep in touch with your friends, learn to use “electronic mail”.