tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47264315113640112892024-03-07T06:03:20.278-08:00It is a numeric lifeFunny Statistics. Funny Numbers.
Don't go to cocktail parties without them.Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-34424800563319325352007-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:002007-12-04T19:08:10.571-08:00I have decided to cut back my efforts from blogging, and spend more time with my family and my new job (a promotion !). I plan to post only on weekends.Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-5202976007641894832007-11-25T11:44:00.000-08:002007-11-25T12:17:15.289-08:00Do you really work out ?<div align="justify">Experts recommend an hour of physical activity a day. For most Americans, that is a dream. We spent <strong>$4.9</strong> billions on fitness equipment and <strong>$17.4</strong> billion on fitness clubs in 2006, but according to the American Time Use Survey, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>83%</strong></span> of us don't exercise at all on a given day. Workout is another one of those things we know we should do, but just don't do it (or do enough of it), reflecting the gap between hard-weired (body) apparatus and the logical reasoning. </div><div align="justify"><em>Source</em>: <a href="http://www.time.com/">Time </a>(Nov. 26, 2007)</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-64285325392747553712007-11-22T12:50:00.000-08:002007-11-22T14:04:25.202-08:00Thanksgiving Day Numbers<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjHmsjkFHoP5fQgqtLU_758MMcVwi77XhLzFFsuzV9Fs5tABGfeY3O4SmylhYhg3sXFVY672rkoimf6ijdLENCtBQgBKIUyEaZj1aSx94vMZ8aOD3P0wAobeWivhGLyuBBfz9FmoMS41R/s1600-h/thanksgiving.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135788406749759842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjHmsjkFHoP5fQgqtLU_758MMcVwi77XhLzFFsuzV9Fs5tABGfeY3O4SmylhYhg3sXFVY672rkoimf6ijdLENCtBQgBKIUyEaZj1aSx94vMZ8aOD3P0wAobeWivhGLyuBBfz9FmoMS41R/s400/thanksgiving.jpg" border="0" /></a> 1) Because of depleted frozen-turkey supplies and rising energy prices, this year's Turkey dinner will <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-turkey16nov16,1,1421112.story?ctrack=1&cset=true">cost</a> you <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;">11%</span></strong> more than last year.<br /></div><div align="justify">2) Watch what we eat in the Turkey dinner. Despite clear evidence that eating vegetables can ward off heart disease, diabetes and cancer, less than <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>10%</strong></span> of Americans meet the new <a href="http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/default.htm">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a> published in 2005. The New dietary guidelines recommend us to eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, up from 5 servings in the previous guidelines. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">3) Drive safely. In 2005 for example, there were <a href="http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100176843&GT1=10613">more</a> alcohol-related traffic fatalities (<span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>628</strong></span>) over the Thanksgiving holiday in US, than over Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Christmas, or New Year’s Day.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-69052897973808081252007-11-18T14:36:00.000-08:002007-11-18T14:55:01.402-08:00Do parents love their children equally?<div align="justify">I suspect that many parents really do like some of their kids more than others. How couldn't they? Children are simply not the same. Even so, I would expect people to say that they feel the same about all of their kids. At least in our society, you're not supposed to play favorites. </div><div align="justify">However, according to the book <a href="http://home.att.net/~xchar/n2a/n2a.htm">No Two Alike </a>(I finished reading it yesterday), many parents admitted to favoritism: </div><div align="justify"><blockquote><div align="justify">"In two separate studies, British and American parents of two small children were asked whether they felt more affection for one than the other. More than <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>50%</strong></span> admitted that they did. The overwhelming majority of these parents - <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>87%</strong></span> of the mothers and <strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">85%</span></strong> of the fathers in the American study - said they favored the younger child". </div></blockquote></div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-78405800932680412372007-11-17T15:14:00.000-08:002007-11-17T21:29:28.747-08:00Different Inflation Perspectives of Men and Women<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qHD8EWWUho7fYiYuZg86jwUXX2LiuppnApFlcr7748qwX1EBVQXPIFC7EtIoPUG8t51gfDYUBr8Xzm5jYKmgkX45JjIH2pc9seRn1Vqejx5beyAFRqvZiP8AaojtYlz1HtaSxdoErvN5/s1600-h/shopping+coupon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133960013402048850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qHD8EWWUho7fYiYuZg86jwUXX2LiuppnApFlcr7748qwX1EBVQXPIFC7EtIoPUG8t51gfDYUBr8Xzm5jYKmgkX45JjIH2pc9seRn1Vqejx5beyAFRqvZiP8AaojtYlz1HtaSxdoErvN5/s400/shopping+coupon.jpg" border="0" /></a>Between society's “haves” and “have-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nots</span></span>”, the former are better positioned to endure cost-of-living increases. As the results, they tend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">to</span> be less sensitive to price increases, and have the so called "lower inflation perceptions and expectations".<br /></div><div align="justify">However the gender is also a factor here - <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_baum&sid=aHv2HHL.KeD4">study</a> shows that sex can influence inflation expectations too: after holding income, age, education, race and marital status constant, women consistently think inflation is <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>1.9%</strong></span> points higher than men, and they expect prices to rise <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>2.1%</strong></span> points more than men. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Now you know why women love coupons and sales. </div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-17724479449964442682007-11-15T04:59:00.000-08:002007-11-15T05:12:37.893-08:00Men get their coffee earlier than women<div align="justify">Here is an small-size <a href="http://blogs.ft.com/undercover/2007/11/undercover-econ.html">survey</a> conducted in eight coffee shops in the Boston area. Researchers want to know how long it took men and women to be served. The results:<br /><blockquote>men get their coffee <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>20</strong></span> seconds earlier than women. (There is also evidence that black people wait longer than white people, the young wait longer than the old, and the ugly wait longer than the beautiful. But these effects are statistically not as persuasive.)</blockquote>Not sure if this is because men are more decisive orderer than women, or coffee shops' staff feel more implicit psychological pressure to meet the needs of the male customers. </div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-77445854470041474332007-11-11T13:04:00.000-08:002007-11-11T14:28:40.711-08:00Where is my love ?<div align="justify">A recent <a href="http://463.blogs.com/the_463/2007/10/hi-there-im-the.html">survey</a> reveals <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>25%</strong></span> Americans think that the Internet can serve as a substitute for a significant other for some period of time, and <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>11%</strong></span> say they would be willing to safely implant a device that enabled them to use their mind to access the Internet. This survey was conducted online, so I think these numbers, although disturbing, are true and say a lot about US Internet users. </div><br /><div align="justify">Also according to this survey, more than 25% Americans has a social networking profile on sites such as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MySpace</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook, and </span>78% of 18-24 year-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">olds</span> report having a social networking profile. </div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-44685069833772907972007-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:002007-11-07T21:34:17.387-08:00Numbers of the day<div align="justify">1. Veterans are only <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">11%</span></strong> of the adult population in US, but they make up <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">25%</span></strong> homeless people, according to a <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21678030/">report</a>. The sad thing is that "<em>young veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job</em>". </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">2. do you agree on this? most people feel comfortable <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21564836/?GT1=10631">lying about their sex life</a>. <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">70%</span></strong> of married people "<em>hide sexual fantasies they secretly want fulfilled</em>", and <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">53%</span></strong> admit they "<em>fake orgasm, pretending to like a partner’s sexual skills". </em></div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-47533427669173126502007-11-04T22:59:00.000-08:002007-11-04T21:46:40.472-08:00World's primates are threatened with extinction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-ZDmhISL3t6sEN45EQB0Q-YwbNTllQ_yWsIt6jS74p3aK1dMOaD7iuReot_XRkcAMPAnWCkSpdL5Z2HolmtuhyFiXQi8IWekQBrRDkj1X9X0rXVULcvfWu0aJqTU844Kz6Izl8fxRpP4/s1600-h/Primates.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129228185998997602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-ZDmhISL3t6sEN45EQB0Q-YwbNTllQ_yWsIt6jS74p3aK1dMOaD7iuReot_XRkcAMPAnWCkSpdL5Z2HolmtuhyFiXQi8IWekQBrRDkj1X9X0rXVULcvfWu0aJqTU844Kz6Izl8fxRpP4/s400/Primates.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <a href="http://www.conservation.org/English/Pages/Default.aspx?nointro=true&USC=True">Conservation International</a>, is releasing a report documenting the world's 25 most endangered apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates, which are under unprecedented threat from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bushmeat hunting.<br /><div align="justify">Today, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>29%</strong></span> of all species in danger of going extinct, and we may soon witness the first primate extinctions in more than a century. Overall, 114 of the world’s 394 primate species are classified as threatened with extinction. On the left is the images of the possibly doomed <em>Horton Plains slender loris.</em></div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-78640563145981301182007-11-04T22:56:00.000-08:002007-11-04T21:34:21.309-08:00Funny video - Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live<object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ndQM0X5rhfE&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ndQM0X5rhfE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-35965989745161764352007-11-04T21:53:00.000-08:002007-11-04T21:47:50.835-08:00Voting candidates based on how they makes us feel<div align="justify">Earlier <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/~atodorov/Publications/Willis&Todorov-PsychScience.pdf">research</a> had shown that people make judgments about someone’s trustworthiness, competence, aggressiveness and other traits in a mere 1/10 of a second, by just looking at that person's face, or in another word, how that person makes people feel. </div><div align="justify">Now, in a<a href="http://www.princeton.edu/~atodorov/Publications/Ballew&Todorov_PNAS2007.pdf"> study </a>published recently, reseacher goes one depressing step further: these lightning-quick facial judgments can predict real-world election results, with <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>70%</strong></span> accuracy.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-31119894406627670542007-11-04T20:38:00.000-08:002007-11-04T20:58:57.582-08:00Marriage is a strong deterrent to poverty<p align="justify">What do you think distinguishes the high and low poverty populations? There are some <a href="http://www.townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2007/10/31/are_the_poor_getting_poorer">evidence</a> that "<em>the only statistical distinction between both the black and white populations is marriage. There is far less poverty in married-couple families, where presumably at least one of the spouses is employed. Fully <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">85%</span></strong> of black children living in poverty reside in a female-headed household</em>". </p><p align="justify">According to earlier Census <a href="http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba428/">data</a>, only <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">4.0%</span></strong> of married couples without children are in poverty. In contrast, the poverty rate for singles without children is <span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>8.6%</strong></span>. One study found that married men earn <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"><strong>22%</strong></span> more than their unmarried counterpart. </p>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-7682123567417302182007-11-04T20:06:00.000-08:002007-11-04T20:14:07.617-08:00Pay Gap between men and women<div align="justify"><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/04478918266290454362" rel="nofollow">Sicilian</a> asked me what are the stats on women's salaries in the Fortune 500 companies (and she bet they are much lower than the men's salaries). See below for the pay gap between men and women; the good news is that the gap is shrinking.</div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Ry6YPf5kOFI/AAAAAAAAALE/jj81TAgndsI/s1600-h/pay+disparity+between+men+and+women.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129204417649981522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Ry6YPf5kOFI/AAAAAAAAALE/jj81TAgndsI/s400/pay+disparity+between+men+and+women.jpg" border="0" /></a>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-208385385006424502007-10-31T19:20:00.000-07:002007-10-31T19:45:49.481-07:00Top 26 Beautiful Castles Around The World<div align="justify">Check this <a href="http://1nf0rmat10n.com/2007/10/21/100/">link</a> out, you can see 26 most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">beautiful</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">castles</span> around the world. The Craigdarroch Castle in Canada (below) is the only one I have visited.</div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Ryk5Xf5kOEI/AAAAAAAAAK8/xMN7RiSqsYI/s1600-h/Craigdarroch+Castle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127692726600742978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Ryk5Xf5kOEI/AAAAAAAAAK8/xMN7RiSqsYI/s400/Craigdarroch+Castle.jpg" border="0" /></a>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-5661764813171423132007-10-29T19:31:00.000-07:002007-10-31T20:00:31.620-07:00Women leaders Help Boost the Bottom Line<div align="justify">A recent <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fcd50a5a-7746-11dc-9de8-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1">study</a> showing that Fortune 500 companies with the highest proportion of female directors are more profitable and efficient, on average, than those with the lowest: an <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>83%</strong></span> higher average return on equity, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>73%</strong></span> higher return on sales, and <span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>112%</strong></span> higher return on invested capital. </div><div align="justify">Note that these correlations do not necessarily mean senior women cause superior financial performance. Rather they points to the fact that a "gender balanced" environment is more conductive to better business performance.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-19051535308103291192007-10-27T20:45:00.000-07:002007-10-27T21:01:21.976-07:00Do you believe in ghosts ?<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwMzryv7glHj6H619CCXfDWDUrEHQ4lcT4ZCEU_7ScayoYTprilSjRnqzLUulNSYGQDq8kp334xq02srmBWVie2Q-soEo_bF__RvauD93AR6rDBatWyJ94cIIx0Siw43sT5O9HmgEK_uI/s1600-h/ghost.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126232725482911794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwMzryv7glHj6H619CCXfDWDUrEHQ4lcT4ZCEU_7ScayoYTprilSjRnqzLUulNSYGQDq8kp334xq02srmBWVie2Q-soEo_bF__RvauD93AR6rDBatWyJ94cIIx0Siw43sT5O9HmgEK_uI/s400/ghost.jpg" border="0" /></a>I don't believe in ghosts, but I am too scared to see ANY horror movies.<br /></div><div align="justify">According to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">recent</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-10-25-ghosts-poll_N.htm">survey</a></span> in US, about 1/3 of people believe in ghosts, and nearly 23% of people say they've actually seen a ghost or felt its presence. About 19% say they accept the existence of spells or witchcraft. Nearly 48% believe in extrasensory perception, or ESP. The most likely candidates for ghostly visits include single people, Catholics and those who never attend religious services. By 31% to 18%, more liberals than conservatives report seeing a specter.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-76259927179646676782007-10-27T19:28:00.001-07:002007-10-27T20:32:23.038-07:00Simple sentences spread ideas farther<div align="justify">Taking advantage of a new Amazon feature, Steven Johnson has done some interesting (but not surprising) <a href="http://www.stevenberlinjohnson.com/2007/10/this-may-be-old.html?cid=87592892#comment-87592892">research</a> on the complexity of the work of a few writers:</div><div align="justify"><blockquote><br /><div align="justify">two stats that I found totally fascinating were "Average Words Per Sentence" and "% Complex Words," the latter defined as words with three or more syllables -- words like "ameliorate", "protoplasm" or "motherf***er." I've always thought that sentence length is a hugely determining factor in a reader's perception of a given work's complexity, and I spent quite a bit of time in my twenties actively teaching myself to write shorter sentences. So this kind of material is fascinating to me, partially because it lets me see something statistically that I've thought a great deal about intuitively as a writer, and partially because I can compare my own stats to<br />other writers' and see how I fare. (Perhaps there's a literary Rotisserie league lurking somewhere on those Text Stats pages.) </div><br /><div align="justify">So I spent a few hours last week plugging in the numbers for my books, as well as a few other authors that I assembled in an entirely unscientific fashion: Malcolm Gladwell, Steven Pinker, Seth Godin, Christopher Hitchens -- and then, just to see how far I'd come, I threw in my intellectual (and, sadly, stylistic) heroes from my early twenties, the post-structuralist legends Michel Foucault and Frederic Jameson. I compiled stats for 3-4 books for each author, except Gladwell who has written two, and then plotted them on a scatter chart, with the y axis representing % complex words and the x axis representing words per sentence. </div></blockquote></div><br /><div align="justify">Number below are what Johnson found (click to enlarge):<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/RyQAIf5kOCI/AAAAAAAAAKk/ebaWEWyJRIQ/s1600-h/writing_sentence.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126222421856368674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/RyQAIf5kOCI/AAAAAAAAAKk/ebaWEWyJRIQ/s400/writing_sentence.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="justify">Based on the popularity of authors (Malcolm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gladwell</span> and Seth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Godin</span>), the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">conclusion</span> appears that short, simple sentences sell more books, and spread ideas farther and faster.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-54053960798925292812007-10-23T19:11:00.000-07:002007-10-23T19:29:22.980-07:00Few workers connect to the company emotionally<div align="justify">According to a new <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21423736/">survey</a>, only <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">21%</span></strong> of workers worldwide are "engaged" (HR term for 'ready to expend some extra effort at work'), while <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">38%</span></strong> are either disenchanted or disengaged. Among all nations, Japan has the lowest portion of engaged workers, only 3%, and 72% are disenchanted or disengaged (this got has something to do with the Japan's life-time employment). Below the full list of engagement levels by country:</div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Rx6tf5miS7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/Dmi-uddpa_Q/s1600-h/worker-engagement.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5124724189544205234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-X-4CP7YkUc/Rx6tf5miS7I/AAAAAAAAAKc/Dmi-uddpa_Q/s400/worker-engagement.jpg" border="0" /></a>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-50352737200013268032007-10-20T21:58:00.000-07:002007-10-20T22:05:50.672-07:00Taxes are growing around the world<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfseuThNA74zIkLex3Ci48k9SD4nmSk0rhb5uQ1YF_HwuvHTv2QDAMXSaqiJ58tWPR31PxUPJv1L1tSAyA-YcS6Uceysmq1VZDJlMVUJtPpjGlU_fD72Xgo3lkS3K-PCid8UCFrr15Gp0/s1600-h/Increase+Cost+of+Government.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123651242289154978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfseuThNA74zIkLex3Ci48k9SD4nmSk0rhb5uQ1YF_HwuvHTv2QDAMXSaqiJ58tWPR31PxUPJv1L1tSAyA-YcS6Uceysmq1VZDJlMVUJtPpjGlU_fD72Xgo3lkS3K-PCid8UCFrr15Gp0/s400/Increase+Cost+of+Government.jpg" border="0" /></a> So, according to this <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/business/worldbusiness/18tax.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">report</a>, either the entire planet is vastly over taxed -- or we here in USA, speaking relatively, aren't shouldering such a bad tax burden after all . . .Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-54772102759446069652007-10-20T20:31:00.000-07:002007-10-21T17:10:59.263-07:00Ovulating strippers make more money<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy_z3D2FZSyAQtwhd9lvuYuALGHuoV0CL37n4XlDSQI_54O9X-56r6UXgQsy9MHkTHztrL1QDs0lCRnqStDHOa5vX5mumNW6OCx8Q9eylK592AqbwKzMbuLu1bEVpZekq2mtfzsRv-RNQ/s1600-h/Lap_Dance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123633315095661442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFy_z3D2FZSyAQtwhd9lvuYuALGHuoV0CL37n4XlDSQI_54O9X-56r6UXgQsy9MHkTHztrL1QDs0lCRnqStDHOa5vX5mumNW6OCx8Q9eylK592AqbwKzMbuLu1bEVpZekq2mtfzsRv-RNQ/s200/Lap_Dance.jpg" border="0" /></a>In a revealing <a href="http://www.ehbonline.org/article/PIIS1090513807000694/abstract">study</a>, University of New Mexico researchers recruited 18 subjects (professional lap dancers working in gentlemen's clubs) to log their work shifts, earnings and menstrual cycles on a Web site for two months, or about 5,300 lap dances. The naked truth: participants scored $335 per five-hour shift while ovulating, compared with $260 per shift during the luteal phase after ovulation, and $185 while menstruating. Participants using contraceptive pills showed no estrous earnings peak.<br /></div><div align="justify">The dancers' scientifically gyrating pelvises provided the first direct evidence for human estrus in contemporary human females.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-14332729950736974202007-10-20T19:07:00.000-07:002007-10-20T20:26:59.220-07:00Usage determine the survival of a word<div align="justify">New <a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa017&articleID=8B115001-E7F2-99DF-346F909C5D6D751C&pageNumber=1&catID=1">studies</a> show the words in a language that are used infrequently are subject to change rapidly over time. Researchers determined that it would take as little as 750 years to replace less-used words, and up to 10,000 years for new words to evolve in place of the most frequently used ones. I doubt those 2 numbers are applicable to our modern time, however. I certainly hope the word 'blog' becoming part of everyday language in the next 10 years.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-20465861220899476862007-10-18T20:29:00.000-07:002007-10-18T06:41:02.538-07:00Yearn for our own business<div align="justify">According to a <a href="http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071014/BIZ/710140322/1076/BIZ">survey</a> of 1,000 people between the ages of 25 and 55, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>72%</strong></span> of those surveyed said they dream of starting their own business, and <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>84%</strong></span> said that if they started their own business they would be more passionate about their work. The biggest draw to owning your own business? <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>40%</strong></span> of workers said it would enable them to "do what they love." Another<span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">24%</span></strong></span> said they most like the idea of being their own boss and <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>21%</strong></span> said they'd favor the flexible schedule. The survey focused on people who don't already own a business.</div><div align="justify">If we can be in charge of our destiny, wouldn't that be awesome ?</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-88388751242395311432007-10-14T19:30:00.000-07:002007-10-14T20:29:16.316-07:00The older we get, the happier we become<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fGyaujgdl5IuEDquwtu6PFcYeQR5peEhTyOqy7cq0su0riBEtHz050f_0HkytGjKtDVRWLZNJcJbr0tiD_cVfdtoKsWs5z3lIkJHAz6dinZ48NpNPm9i2-BriaXdluEUPQNcADTiuVhz/s1600-h/numericlife3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121400052360825714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fGyaujgdl5IuEDquwtu6PFcYeQR5peEhTyOqy7cq0su0riBEtHz050f_0HkytGjKtDVRWLZNJcJbr0tiD_cVfdtoKsWs5z3lIkJHAz6dinZ48NpNPm9i2-BriaXdluEUPQNcADTiuVhz/s200/numericlife3.jpg" border="0" /></a> A <a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-happiness15oct15,1,4196893.story?coll=la-headlines-health">report</a> (LA Time) conclude that the older people get, the happier people become. This is mainly because older people are free from many responsibilities (or 'burden') young people take, and know how to take life in a easier way. In a <a href="http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01988.x">study</a> published in September in Psychological Science, older adults were about <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>30%</strong></span> less reactive to the negative images compared with the younger adults. More from this report:<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><blockquote><br /><div align="justify">"only in the last decade have researchers begun to measure happiness across the life span and, in doing so, try to understand why older people tend to be so content. </div><br /><div align="justify">The explanation doesn't appear to be biological - some chemical in the brain that mellows us just when all those plump neurons needed for thinking and memory are shriveling up. Rather, most scientists now think that experience and the mere passage of time gradually motivate people to approach life differently. The blazing-to-freezing range of emotions experienced by the young blends into something more lukewarm by later life, numerous studies show. Older people are less likely to be caught up in their emotions and more likely to focus on the positive, ignoring the negative."</div></blockquote>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-76893743538707402642007-10-13T15:33:00.000-07:002007-10-14T09:56:09.528-07:00Jobs have high rates of depression<div align="justify">According to a new <a href="http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/depression/occupation.pdf">report</a> from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>7%</strong></span> of all full-time workers in US battled depression in the past year. </div><div align="justify">The job has the highest rate of depression is the Personal Care, almost <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>11%</strong></span> of workers-which includes child care and helping the elderly and severely disabled with their daily needs-reported depression lasting two weeks or longer. </div><div align="justify">Workers who works in restaurant industries-prepare and serve food, bartenders, waiters and waitresses-had the 2nd hest rate of depression at <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>10.3%</strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#333333;">.</span></span></div><div align="justify">In a tie for 3rdre health care workers and social workers at <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>9.6%</strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#333333;">.</span></span></div><div align="justify">The lowest rate of depression, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>4.3%</strong></span>, occurred in the job category that covers engineers, architects and surveyors.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The news which is not depressing? just working full-time would appear to be beneficial in preventing depression. Although the overall rate of depression for full-time workers is 7%, it is <span style="color:#000000;">12.7%</span> by those who are unemployed.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4726431511364011289.post-51143149000710755692007-10-12T06:32:00.000-07:002007-10-12T06:35:01.682-07:00Number of the day<div align="justify">This year, state of California will <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-compact7oct07,0,2406442.story?coll=la-home-center">spend</a> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>300%</strong></span> as much operating its prisons than running the Univ. California system.</div>Numeric Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976784667908287575noreply@blogger.com3