Dani Rodrik's weblog: The inescapable trilemma of the world economy

So I maintain that any reform of the international economic system must face up to this trilemma. If we want more globalization, we must either give up some democracy or some national sovereignty. Pretending that we can have all three simultaneously leaves us in an unstable no-man’s land.
Dani Rodrik’s weblog: The inescapable trilemma of the world economy.

A year old posts but more important to note now that the world is in a Severe Economic Crisis the decisions and compromise that the world leaders choose basically impact my and my generations adult life. This probably has a more formal name but I’ll call it the tragedy of progress, where in the previous generation either build the pitfalls or the stepping stones of the next generation.

Great Read ===> Hardwood Paroxysm: What Doesn't Kill You Only Makes You Less Likely To Rebound: Seven Seconds Or Less And The Dark Knight

Great article on Mike D’Antoni’s Seven Seconds Or Less and Dark Knight!

Now, conversely, Simmons’ article also is a good reference point because it speaks to the prevailing counter-argument. The tenets of rational order, you might say. The tenets are that defense wins championship, toughness always wins over flash, and that you can’t play basketball like that and expect to win. And just like in the Dark Knight, the end seems to justify that train of thought. The Joker got caught, the Spurs won the title, and all is right with the world (don’t even get me started on the similarities between Batman accepting the responsibility of being hunted by the police and criticized for his good intentions and the Spurs being constantly dogged as “boring”). But there’s also something telling in what the Joker tells Batman, hanging there, laughing at him.

“I think you and I are destined to do this forever.”
Just because SSOL failed in the desert doesn’t mean it will always fail, and it didn’t mean the end of the movement. Because tonight, when the Knicks, with Al Harrington firing threes and Nate Robinson splitting defenders, beat the Celtics, with all their defense, all their fundamentals, all their strength, you saw a glimpse of it. The battle’s eternal, and necessary between the two. Chaotic, freewheeling mania versus controlled, disciplined order.
Now, of course, this isn’t meant to idolize the violent murder the joker takes as whimsy, nor to link D’Antoni to that kind of behavior. But there’s a reason that no one goes around quoting any of Christian Bale’s lines from that film, a reason that Ledger is posthumously up for an Oscar and was spoken of a nomination before his passing, a reason that when you think of that film, you think of the Joker. And it’s the same reason kids love to dunk, that we like the fastbreak more than the halfcourt, and why Gilbert Arenas is on the All-Star ballot despite not playing a tick and Bruce Bowen has never been a serious DPOY of the year candidate. It’s human nature, and it plays out every night on the court.
The best part is that there will never be an answer to the question. The fundamentalists will respond with “Who’s got the rings?” and the other side will respond with a cackle and just a simple…
“You’ll see. I’ll show you.”
Hardwood Paroxysm: What Doesn’t Kill You Only Makes You Less Likely To Rebound: Seven Seconds Or Less And The Dark Knight.

Nice Comment on Work Effort And Success!

from here

And yes, I get paid well, and I get treated well, and I probably have it better than 99% of people out there. Am I thankful for that? I absolutely am every single day. I realize how awesome it is to love what I do, but I didn’t just fall into it. I wasn’t just handed it. And every single day isn’t gumdrops. I think I worked pretty hard to get where I am. Am I spoiled? I wouldn’t say so. Okay, maybe a tiny bit. But when it really comes down to it, do I know any developers who are very successful and don’t pour their heart and soul into their work?
Absolutely not.

The Problem With Torture

Reading something so short and yet be able to say that the way you think and feel has been changed!
from wroing the rights here:

And the problem with torture is not that it produces untrustworthy information. That is a problem, certainly -we should not expend resources on useless results- but torture would still be unacceptable if it produced the sterling truth every time.

The problem with torture is different.
Torture is the subversion of the body to overthrow the soul. When a person breaks, he is broken: he will give up any information, do whatever is asked of him. He no longer exists as an independent being, a member of society. He is only an instrument of his torturer. His sole aim becomes “make it stop.” That is a cancer on any free society.

Happy New Year

2008 is about to give way to 2009. its 1715H here in the Philippines and a little less than 9 hours till mid night! I am feeing a little nostalgic about the pas years and would like to write about it but, I am still living the moment.
I think I’d write about it later.

This Must Stop-AP study finds $1.6B went to bailed-out bank execs – Yahoo! News

The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines.
Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services committee and a long-standing critic of executive largesse, said the bonuses tallied by the AP review amount to a bribe “to get them to do the jobs for which they are well paid in the first place.
“Most of us sign on to do jobs and we do them best we can,” said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. “We’re told that some of the most highly paid people in executive positions are different. They need extra money to be motivated!”
The AP compiled total compensation based on annual reports that the banks file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 116 banks have so far received $188 billion in taxpayer help. Among the findings:
_The average paid to each of the banks’ top executives was $2.6 million in salary, bonuses and benefits.
_Lloyd Blankfein, president and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs, took home nearly $54 million in compensation last year. The company’s top five executives received a total of $242 million.
AP study finds $1.6B went to bailed-out bank execs – Yahoo! News.

Facebook | Which Zodiac Sign Are You Most Compatible With?

Cancer
You are most compatible with CANCER! I’m sure most of your friends are Cancerians! Together you’re going to rock! Cancerians are serious, caring, sensitive people with complex psyches. This is a sign that dislikes taking unneccessary risks. They are able to identify with the situations of others because of the keenness of their imaginations. Their sharp ears and talent for mimicry can sometimes give them success on the stage, though their tendency to be emotional may make them overact. A wounded Cancerian is not an easy person to deal with. Given the opportunity at the right time, people of this sign cope remarkably well with fame, fortune, and responsibility. Money and a sense of security play an important part in the Cancerian scheme of life. Though careful with money they are kind, generous and thoughtful.
Facebook | Which Zodiac Sign Are You Most Compatible With?.

Flip Pride- A Good Animated Filipino Made Film – OUR AWESOME PLANET: Kaya ng Filipino Lumipad… a DAYO Review

1. The Dayo Storyline is solid
One of the things I didn’t like about previous Filipino animated movies was that their storyline was corny. Dayo was able to bring to life our animist world with the Nuno sa Punso, Manananggal, Kapre, Tikbalang, Sirena and Syokoy. The Alikupong concept was brilliant. I wanted to shout, “Finally, Filipinos have made our first digitally animated movie! Yes!!!”
OUR AWESOME PLANET: Kaya ng Filipino Lumipad… a DAYO Review.

Philippine province tries to shake off its mafia image – Yahoo! Philippines News

After Edsa Revolutions 2 lots of UP grads were enlisted to become investigators for the Ombudsman (A local constitutional institution that is charged in going after corrupt officials).  A friend wanted to help in fight corruption in the Philippines. He tells me that to investigate anything in Abra is akin to a death sentence. Its scary because in my home province of Bataan it seems that although we have not reached that point, we are fast going that route. Sometimes I ask myself, what can one man do? what can I do? I still haven’t found an answer.

But, he added, “we also want Abra to stand for something other than gunplay”.
Here the going rate for a Mafia-style “hit” on a local politician was just 5,000 pesos (about 100 dollars) in last year’s elections, according to people in the know.
“That is the house of a bodyguard of the former governor. Armed men knocked on his door and shot him dead during the election campaign,” a local rental car driver said as he showed visitors the sights of the provincial capital.
Despite its natural beauty and rich mineral endowment, many people here live in poverty. Communist guerrillas operate in the lawless uplands, and some towns have been practically abandoned by their mayors, Bersamin said.
Philippine province tries to shake off its mafia image – Yahoo! Philippines News.