News.com has an article about Google's unusual approach to philanthropy.

http://news.com.com/Googles+unusual+approach+to+philanthropy/2100-1014_3-6115533.html?tag=nefd.topGoogle.org will be a for-profit corporation. Although that's really a not-for-profit corporation without all the artificial government-imposed restrictions, given I wouldn't ( Read more... )

A very good article about the requisites necessary to create a start-up friendly environment, and the challenges of other countries in doing so.

http://www.paulgraham.com/america.htmlI had thought about doing some software startups in Costa Rica. By far the largest problem is the need to import programming talent. I thought this could be overcome ( Read more... )

I left the United States because it was fast becoming a fascist surveillance/police state.

I left six years ago.

Systems change steadily but gradually at a rate that people within the system tend not to notice, like a slowly warming fishtank. However, having left the fishtank, it is truly frightening to witness.

Now that he is officially sworn ( Read more... )

The Death Ship (German title: Das Totenschiff) is a novel by the pseudonymous author known as B. Traven. Originally published in German in 1926, and in English in 1934...Set just after World War One, The Death Ship describes the predicament of merchant seamen who lack documentation of citizenship and cannot find legal residence or employment in any ( Read more... )

Interestingly online games are providing a much better lesson in economics than most schools ( Read more... )

"According to a computational study conducted by a group of physicists at Washington University in St. Louis, one may create order by introducing disorder ( Read more... )

Good news, the motion spearheaded by Otto Guevara and Movimiento Libertario was successful, Sala IV rejected the first passage of the tax plan, upholding the two-thirds supermajority requirement. 38 deputies are required to pass the tax plan, twice (before and after constitutional review). Proponents had tried to bend the rules and push it through ( Read more... )

Stayed at Los Sueños resort in Jaco last weekend. Very relaxing. Spent most the time at the pools, did some barbecuing (so nice staying in a condo rather than a hotel room). Went to Tsunami for sushi in Jaco, surpisingly good sushi for a beach town.

Spent a week in Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast. Great place. Had the best Thai food I've found in Costa Rica. There's also an outdoor cinema. Watch the movie and have drinks, avoid the food ((under)cooked on lava rocks).

I finally decided to create a livejournal account.