Author: Hafiz Noor Shams

For more about me, please read this.

[1334] Of Ron Paul said…

When asked how he would confront his opponents’ charges, Paul’s answers are as straight and flat as a Texas highway. “The media would love it if you got real, real personal. But I just have trouble drifting from the issue itself. … I’m challenging them to think about policy. Nobody, liberals or conservatives, Republicans or Democrats wants to challenge overall Middle East policy. It is sacred. There’s oil. There’s the neocon idea of spreading democracy. There’s Israel. You just shouldn’t dare challenge our eternal presence in the Middle East. So they attack the messenger in a personal way.” [Lone Star. Michael Brendan Dougherty. The American Conservative. June 18 2007]

Tags libertarianism, Republicans, Ron Paul, US presidential elections

Economics Environment Science & technology

[1333] Of less trees means less cloudiness

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Tuesday, August 14 2007
1 Comment on [1333] Of less trees means less cloudiness

A recent observation in Australia suggests that cloud formation is related to vegetation:

A fence built to prevent rabbits from entering the Australian outback has unintentionally allowed scientists to study the effects of land use on regional climates.

The rabbit-proof fence — or bunny fence — in Western Australia was completed in 1907 and stretches about 2,000 miles. It acts as a boundary separating native vegetation from farmland. Within the fence area, scientists have observed a strange phenomenon: above the native vegetation, the sky is rich in rain-producing clouds. But the sky on the farmland side is clear. [At Australia’s Bunny Fence, Variable Cloudiness Prompts Climate Study. New York Times. August 14 2007]

That may not sound as astounding as seeing a pig flying but wait till you see this picture:

NYT. Fair use. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/science/earth/14fenc.html

And what is so interesting about this finding?

Dr. Nair speculates that increases in the world’s population will prompt the clearing of more land to increase food production. But he wonders whether, in the long run, “we will reach a point of land clearing that will diminish food production,” because rainfall has decreased. [At Australia’s Bunny Fence, Variable Cloudiness Prompts Climate Study. New York Times. August 14 2007]

Can anybody say decreasing returns to scale?

Tags climate change, clouds, cultivation

Economics

[1332] Of is this privatization or nationalization?

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Tuesday, August 14 2007
2 Comments on [1332] Of is this privatization or nationalization?

With the proliferation of government intervention in the market nowadays, the terms privatization and nationalization can be confusing. For instance, PNB which has expressed its interest to take MIDF private:

PETALING JAYA: Pemodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) has proposed to take private Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) by buying the remaining 79.98% shares it does not own for RM1.90 each. [PNB offers RM1.90 to take MIDF private. The Star. August 14 2007]

Take private?

PNB is no private equity entity. Instead, PNB is an investment firm ultimately wholly-owned by the government of Malaysia through Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra. Wouldn’t that mean this exercise would actually nationalize MIDF?

Tags nationalization, PNB, privatization, sovereign wealth funds

Sports

[1331] Of Sneijder goes to Real Madrid

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Tuesday, August 14 2007
No Comments on [1331] Of Sneijder goes to Real Madrid

When Real Madrid expressed interest in Wesley Sneijder, Ajax said EUR27 million and no less. Initially, Real refused to pay for such amount in a grand fashion. Later however, Real relented and so, Sneijder will be leaving Amsterdam for Madrid:

Ajax and Real Madrid have reached agreement about the immediate transfer of Wesley Sneijder. The transfer fee for the 23-year old midfielder is 27 million euro. [Wesley Sneijder joins Real Madrid. AFC Ajax. August 12 2007]

This is a sad day but all the best to him.

And so, Ajax has sold two star players this year for over EUR44 million. The other star is Babel, sold to Liverpool for over EUR17 million.

For your information, EUR27 million is the largest sum Ajax has ever received for the sale of a player. That also makes the move as the second most expensive transfer in the Eredivisie. The most expensive transfer honor belongs to the crybaby Ruud van Nistelrooij. And yes, both players are now playing for the same team.