The John Batchelor Show

Friday 12 February 2016

Air Date: 
February 12, 2016

Photo, left: 
 
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
 
Hour One
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 1, Block A: Jim McTague, Barron’s, in reStocks Rise as Oil Prices, Banks Rally The rally in recently battered commodities and banking shares lifted U.S. and European stocks on Friday, even as Japan’s main index fell to its lowest level in more than a year.
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 1, Block B:  Harry Siegel, New York Daily News, in re: The breakdown of the American promise, and the rise of candidates who can speak directly to Americans about it  http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/harry-siegel-screwed-strike-back-article-1.2527469   Here’s Donald Trump, taking a post-New Hampshire victory lap: 
“We’re being ripped off by everybody. And I guess that’s the thing that Bernie Sanders and myself have in common. . . . He says that constantly, and I guess he and I are the only two that really say that.”   Right. Trump is a huckster and a hater while Sanders is a true believer, one who’s again “the puppy who caught the car,” as the New York Times described him after he shocked the Democratic machine to become mayor of Burlington, Vt., in 1982.  But both are saying something similar.
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 1, Block C:  Coral Davenport, NYT Business Day , in re:  "Global Deal on Curbing Emissions by Airlines" U.N. Agency Proposes Limits on Airlines’ Carbon Emissions  The proposed new rules by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations’ aviation agency, would apply for all new airplanes delivered after 2028.
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 1, Block D:  Christopher Schrader,  science writer based in Germany, in re: "Global Deal on Curbing Emissions by Airlines" & the European Emissions system.
 
Hour Two
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 2, Block A: Michael E Vlahos, Naval War College, in re:
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 2, Block B: Michael E Vlahos, Naval War College, in re:
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 2, Block C: Gene Marks, Washington Post, in re: More U.S. Auto Buyers Falling Behind on Payments http://bit.ly/1PND8i1 ; https://twitter.com/DetroitBureau.
Silicon Valley rebels grudgingly learn to play by the rules http://mashable.com/2016/02/10/silicon-valley-regulatory-compliance/#IQHFIqV2u05g
Amazon Infuses $300 Million for Indian Operations; Plans to Provide Loans for SMEs in India http://trak.in/tags/business/2016/02/10/amazon-india-investment-sme-loans/
"The Industrial Revolution of Video"  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/industrial-revolution-video-oren-boiman
Beyoncé Song Lifts Sales 33% at Red Lobster Chain  http://nyti.ms/20ov9JG
German businesses more optimistic than ever: DIHK  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/german-businesses-more-optimistic-than-ever-dihk-2016-02-10  
4 Secrets for Cheaper Business Flights   http://www.business.com/travel/less-is-more-4-secrets-for-cheaper-business-flights/  
Turning a Hug Into a Business   http://www.stthomas.edu/news/turning-hug-business/
Redmond’s push on downtown signs is frustrating business owners   http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/3980883-151/redmonds-push-on-downtown-signs-is-frustrating-business#  
What business needs to know about the Clean Power Plan   http://www.greenbiz.com/article/what-business-needs-know-about-clean-power-plan  
Toss-up: Gov. Wolf's business plan tries to increase private sector investment   http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/02/wolfs_business_plan_increases.html  
Voluntary Job-Quitting Hits Highest Level in Nine Years http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/02/09/voluntary-job-quitting-hits-highest-level-in-nine-years/
Sears to Close at Least 50 More Stores http://time.com/4213895/sears-50-stores-close/
Italian Woman May Face Prison for Not Doing Housework — And Yes, It's Still 2016  http://mic.com/articles/134761/italian-woman-may-face-prison-for-not-doing-housework-and-yes-it-s-still-2016
Twitter turns to outsiders to combat abusive tweeting – CNET http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/ONbIVlpFMLE/story01.htm
Red Lobster sales jumped 30% thanks to a Beyoncé lyric about eating there after sex http://qz.com/613124/red-lobster-sales-jumped-30-thanks-to-a-beyonce-lyric-about-eating-there-after-sex/
$14 Million Settlement Would End ‘Happy Birthday’ Copyright Dispute http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/02/09/398123.htm
Arkansas "incorporates" to attract business http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2016/02/08/arkansas-incorporates-to-attract-business.html
'Saved by the Bell'-Themed Pop-Up Bar and Diner Coming to Chicago http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Saved-By-the-Bell-Themed-Pop-Up-Bar-And-Diner-Coming-to-Chicago-368211661.html
Moscow sends bulldozers to smash small businesses overnight and no one knows why http://mashable.com/2016/02/09/moscow-demolishes-kiosks/#IQHFIqV2u05g
The Unemployment System Isn’t Ready for the Next Recession http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-unemployment-system-isnt-ready-for-the-next-recession/
Pizza Hut launches 24K gold pie for Super Bowl Sunday http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/eats/pizza-hut-launches-24k-gold-pie-super-bowl-sunday-article-1.2518870
Study Finds Seniors Are Game for Service Robots, Not Thinking Ones http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2016/02/03/study-finds-older-adults-are-game-for-service-robots-not-thinking-ones/
Sage 50 Now in a Cloud Version Called Sage 50c http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/SmallBusinessTrends/%7E3/V6tZY1Z2vqw/sage-50c.html
Home Depot is hiring 80,000 new workers http://www.businesspundit.com/home-depot-is-hiring-80000-new-workers-02-2016/
The dollar falls to its weakest level against the euro since late October – MarketWatch  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/risk-averse-investors-plunge-anew-into-japanese-yen-shunning-dollar-2016-02-03?mod=MW_story_latest_news
Federal Reserve President Dudley: US financial conditions have tightened since the December rate increase  http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/03/feds-dudley-conditions-tighter-than-dec-would-weigh-on-fomc-report.html
Trump accuses Cruz of stealing Iowa caucuses through 'fraud' http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~3/NF4fLL0uRJ8/story01.htm
Recession odds hit 40 percent: DB economist http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/03/us-recession-odds-rise-to-40-percent-deutsche-bank-economist.html
Rate hike odds plunge after weak ISM report http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/03/fed-funds-futures-less-than-30-pct-chance-of-even-1-rate-hike-in-2016.html
Here's Why President Obama Is Visiting a Mosque for the First Time in His Presidency http://mic.com/articles/134223/here-s-why-president-obama-is-visiting-a-mosque-for-the-first-time-in-his-presidency
Donald Trump has reportedly been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize http://theweek.com/speedreads/603320/donald-trump-reportedly-been-nominated-nobel-peace-prize
Square's new Apple Pay credit card reader now available in Apple stores  http://www.wired.com/2016/02/squares-apple-pay-reader-is-going-on-sale-at-apple-stores/?mbid=social_twitter
Survey: Growth at US services companies slowed in January http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-survey-growth-at-us-services-companies-slowed-in-january-2016-2
10 states most dependent on the gun industry http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/03/10-states-most-dependent-on-the-gun-industry.html
Lawmakers propose bill to privatize air traffic control http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONGRESS_AVIATION_OVERHAUL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Elon Musk Personally Cancels 'Super Rude' Customer's Tesla Model X Order http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/270356
Entrepreneurship: Restaurants Work around Liquor Laws with Wine-Based Drinks   http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/640316/s/4d560db1/sc/26/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A160C0A20C0A40Cbusiness0Csmallbusiness0Crestaurants0Ework0Earound0Eliquor0Elaws0Ewith0Ewine0Ebased0Edrinks0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm
Office Climate Control Networks Could Let Hackers In, Warns IBM  ttp://www.fastcompany.com/3056215/office-climate-control-networks-could-let-hackers-in-warns-ibm?partner=rss
Just 50 companies dropped $714 million on lobbying last year http://theweek.com/speedreads/603339/just-50-companies-dropped-714-million-lobbying-last-year
 
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 2, Block D:  Gene Marks, Washington Post (2 of 2) 
 
Hour Three
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 3, Block A:  Lincoln’s Selected Writings, by David Reynolds (1 of 2)
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 3, Block B:  Lincoln’s Selected Writings, by David Reynolds (2 of 2)
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 3, Block C:  Jason Sorens, Mercatus Center at George Mason U, in re:    http://mercatus.org/publication/vertical-fiscal-gaps-and-economic-performance-theoretical-and-empirical   Federal Grants Less Effective than Local Revenue (New Mercatus Center at George Mason University Study)   With Congress reexamining some of the programs that distribute federal money to state and local governments, a new study concludes that states and municipalities would actually be better served by simply collecting all of their own revenue.   ‪The surprising finding: When local governments become dependent on federal grants, they spend, borrow, and tax more just to provide the same level of services that they would provide if there were no grants at all.
In both the U.S. and other developed countries, local governments with large “vertical fiscal gaps”—the proportion of their spending coming from federal grants they don’t control—suffer from these ill effects:
•       ‪Worse public-sector efficiency
•       ‪Higher debt and spending
•       ‪Higher tax burdens
•       ‪Less economic growth
•       ‪Less voter knowledge about the performance of their government
This is the first research to bring together wide-ranging evidence on how grants from higher- to lower-level governments affect government performance. While some specific grants are certainly appropriate, their overuse undermines the effectiveness of our states and cities.
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 3, Block D:     Jason Sorens, Mercatus Center at George Mason U, in re:   Above all, theory and evidence both suggest that matching grants, such as the grants that the federal government uses for public welfare and Medicaid programs, are inefficient. Matching grants encourage excessive state and local spending and in the long run may also encourage a higher tax burden. They also contribute to kluge-ocracy—the use of convoluted policy means for simple ends—and undermine government transparency (Teles 2013). 
Jason Sorens is an assistant professor in the political science department at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). He’s been an affiliated scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University since 2008.
Hour Four
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 4, Block A: Gregory Copley, GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs, in re:   After the White House frejected a request from Djibouti to mediate an important rift between Djibouti and Saudi Arabia, Djibouti turned to China, which now has enormous investment there and is building a military base – in the Horn of Africa, at one of the critical naval chokepoints on the planet. Then Secretary Kerry showed up and called out the Djiboutian government for human rights infraction, which was very poorly received, and the only nation left hung out to dry now is the United States.  Djibouti is closely tied to Ethiopia, which has been treated rudely by Pres Obama (who at an AU meeting complained about Ethiopian failure to honor LGBTW rights)  and so also is on the outs with the US.
PRC Begins Djibouti Troop Deployment as Base Construction Accelerates; Rapprochement with Riyadh Sources in Djibouti confirmed that on the night of February 2-3, 2016, some 200 PRC troops from the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces and PLA Navy Marines arrived in Djibouti as a first contingent of forces to protect, support, and oversee construc-tion of the new PLA base at Obock, on the northern littoral of the Gulf of Tadjoura, an area which US forces had formerly occupied.
Initial construction on the facility began in mid-January 2016, and did not take over the actual small base area occupied by the US in Obock, but rather took over the former Free Trade Zone near the port, which was to be greatly expanded by the PRC. Rental payment for the facility was reported to be to offset debt servicing costs which Djibouti already has on PRC lending and capital projects in the country. (1 of 2)
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 4, Block B:  Gregory Copley, GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs, in re:  PRC Begins Djibouti Troop Deployment as Base Construction Accelerates; Rapprochement with Riyadh Sources in Djibouti confirmed that on the night of February 2-3, 2016, some 200 PRC troops from the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces and PLA Navy Marines arrived in Djibouti as a first contingent of forces to protect, support, and oversee construc-tion of the new PLA base at Obock, on the northern littoral of the Gulf of Tadjoura, an area which US forces had formerly occupied.
Initial construction on the facility began in mid-January 2016, and did not take over the actual small base area occupied by the US in Obock, but rather took over the former Free Trade Zone near the port, which was to be greatly expanded by the PRC. Rental payment for the facility was reported to be to offset debt servicing costs which Djibouti already has on PRC lending and capital projects in the country. (2 of 2)
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 4, Block C: Mathieu Ossendrijver,  Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; in re: On the history of thought by an astro-archaeologist who studied Babylonian astronomy on cuneiform tablets in the British Museum.  Two specific tablets: 350 – 50 BCE; these deal with geometrical figures, trapezoidal; last year I figured that these were instructions on how to compute [stuff]: tables, with positions of planets or the Moon; these also contain the mention of figures, which is unique. Marduk, the Babylonian version of Jupiter.  Believed in astrology, held that Jupiter was he astral manifestation of Marduk.   Seems that abstract thinking was not invented in the Fourteenth Century AD, since the Babylonians were comfortably doing that: abstract, computational thinking.  Further, photos of other tablets, some pix from the1950s or 1960s: a description of the motion of Jupiter, including its decreasing velocity over time – and if you graph that out by current methods, plotting velocity against time, you get a trapezoid.  This description is done as a sequence of numbers.
*Ancient Babylonian astronomers used techniques from geometry to calculate the position of Jupiter.*  Babylonian astronomers tracked Jupiter  Ancient Babylonian astronomers developed many important concepts that are still in use, including the division of the sky into 360 degrees. They could also predict the positions of the planets using arithmetic.
Ossendrijver translated several Babylonian cuneiform tablets from 350 to 50 BCE and found that they contain a sophisticated calculation of the position of Jupiter. The method relies on determining the area of a trapezium under a graph. This technique was previously thought to have been invented at least 1400 years later in 14th-century Oxford. This surprising discovery
changes our ideas about how Babylonian astronomers worked and may have influenced Western science. / Science, this issue p. 482 /  Science  29 Jan 2016: Vol. 351, Issue 6272, pp. 482-484 ; DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8085    (1 of 2)
Friday  12 February 2016 / Hour 4, Block D: Mathieu Ossendrijver,  Institute for Philiosphy, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; in re:  Question: if we have a model that describes Jupiter’s motions. How do we figure its motion over 60 days?  The ecliptic – a coordinate circle for all the planets – the Babylonians invented this around 400 BC.   Had a long tradition of mathematics, from 1800BC.  Here, they began to apply it to astronomy.   How long would it take Jupiter to travel half the distance? Must divide into two parts of equal area; they fully understood this graphical method.  Even much later, the Greeks couldn't do this – abstract geometry with a graph and calculations.  . . .  The pre-modern ability to read cuneiform [kyu-ney-i-form] began in the Nineteenth Century.
*Ancient Babylonian astronomers used techniques from geometry to calculate the position of Jupiter.*  Babylonian astronomers tracked Jupiter  Ancient Babylonian astronomers developed many important concepts that are still in use, including the division of the sky into 360 degrees. They could also predict the positions of the planets using arithmetic.
Ossendrijver translated several Babylonian cuneiform tablets from 350 to 50 BCE and found that they contain a sophisticated calculation of the position of Jupiter. The method relies on determining the area of a trapezium under a graph. This technique was previously thought to have been invented at least 1400 years later in 14th-century Oxford. This surprising discovery
changes our ideas about how Babylonian astronomers worked and may have influenced Western science. / Science, this issue p. 482 /  Science  29 Jan 2016: Vol. 351, Issue 6272, pp. 482-484 ; DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8085    (2 of 2)