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How safe is your city? Put it to the bicycle test
Publicist Mariano Pasik has set out to monitor the level of crime in different neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires with hidden cameras and unchained bikes as bait. The idea is that the longer it takes for the bike to be stolen, the safer the area.
"It's not a statistic but in a way it shows that the places where the bicycle gets robbed really quickly perhaps the quality of life is poorer," he said.
Pasik has even posted speeded-up versions of his bike-theid vids,, set to music, no his site http://www.lapruebadelabicicleta.com/), and hopes that others will also take part in his bicycle test across the world - planting bikes and camera, that is, not stealing bikes.
And he's come across some surprising findings so far, for instance, while a bike lasted an hour without being stolen in the unsavoury Constitution neighbourhood, on the upscale shopping street of Santa Fe, a bike lasted a few short minutes before it was stolen.
Though this us perhaps because theives are more likely to operate in areas where there is more wealth and more people, rather than trying their luck in already poor neighbourhoods.
Interestingly, so far in the Bicycle Test, no woman has stolen a bike.
A neighbourhood "passes" the bicycle test when an hour passes or when the filmer gets tired or runs out of batteries. Publicist Mariano Pasik has set out to monitor the level of crime in different neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires with hidden cameras and ... more -
The Vice Presidency — By the Numbers
Despite Vice President John Nance Garner’s notorious description that the vice-presidency as not worth a pitcher of warm spit,” the fact is that the office, and who holds it, matter enormously.
That was true in Garner’s time and even more so today. Nine vice-presidents before him had advanced to the presidency, six by succeeding a deceased president.
Five more men have been added to that list since Garner’s day, three because of the death or resignation of the elected president.
And recent vice-presidents have been granted considerably greater responsibilities than their predecessors while holding the No. 2 office. Consider, for example, Lyndon B. Johnson and the space program; Al Gore and environmental policy, or Dick Cheney and national security.
Warm spit indeed.
What follows is a capsule account of the 46 vice presidents. Despite Vice President John Nance Garner’s notorious description that the vice-presidency as not worth a pitcher of warm spit,” the fa... more -
Welcome to the most crowded place in Europe...
A recent report released by the Office for National Statistics has shown that the UK has the highest population density of any major country in Europe.
An increase in immigration has pushed the pop. density up by five people per sq. km. meaning that, on average, every square kilometre in England has 395 people residing in it.
Apparently Malta has a higher density but also only has a population of 400,000, but us Brits love to claim we're the best at any opportunity, even if it's not 100% true...Or maybe that's just me... A recent report released by the Office for National Statistics has shown that the UK has the highest population density of any major c... more -
Best and Worst Cities for Salary Growth
Let's face it, most of us wouldn't complain if we're offered a raise. Used to be, you could expect at least a cost of living raise once a year. But these days, that's not necessarily a given.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average cost of living was in the U.S. grew by 4.1 percent in all of 2007. But average wage growth was 3.4 percent, according to CBsalary.com. This year, the BLS reports the cost per living has already grown 5.5 percent. These numbers, unfortunately, are troubling to the average worker.
So where do you have a better chance of earning a raise that at least matches the cost of living increase? And where is salary growth seriously lagging? We looked at top 200 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States and identified the 20 cities with the fastest wage growth and 20 cities with the slowest.
The results varied even within individual states. While wage growth in College Station and Waco, Texas grew at a healthy clip in 2007, development in its fellow Texan cities of Amarillo, Tyler and Victoria was sluggish. California had three cities among the 20 with the speediest growth. The Northwest (Idaho and Wyoming) and Southeast (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) regions had solid growth as well.
Here are the cities (among the country's top 200 MSAs) that had the fastest and slowest wage growth last year.
Fastest Wage Growth
College Station-Bryan, Texas
2007 salary growth: 9.5 percent
Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.
2007 salary growth: 7.2 percent
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La.
2007 salary growth: 6.8 percent
Redding, Calif.
2007 salary growth: 5.9 percent
Merced, Calif.
2007 salary growth: 5.7 percent
Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
2007 salary growth: 5.5 percent
Dover, Del.
2007 salary growth: 5.4 percent
Pocatello, Idaho
2007 salary growth: 5.3 percent
Baltimore-Towson, Md.
2007 salary growth: 5.3 percent
Wilmington, Del.-Md.-N.J.
2007 salary growth: 5.2 percent
Jackson, Tenn.
2007 salary growth: 5.2 percent
Casper, Wyo.
2007 salary growth: 5.1 percent
Atlantic City, N.J.
2007 salary growth: 5.1 percent
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.
2007 salary growth: 5.1 percent
Lakeland, Fla.
2007 salary growth: 5.1 percent
Waco, Texas
2007 salary growth: 5.0 percent
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.
2007 salary growth: 4.9 percent
Athens-Clarke County, Ga.
2007 salary growth: 4.9 percent
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.
2007 salary growth: 4.8 percent
Chico, Calif.
2007 salary growth: 4.8 percent
Slowest Wage Growth
Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.
2007 salary growth: 0.1 percent
Ocala, Fla.
2007 salary growth: 0.9 percent
Alexandria, La.
2007 salary growth: 0.9 percent
Kalamazoo-Portage, Mich.
2007 salary growth: 0.9 percent
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, Mich.
2007 salary growth: 1 percent
Springfield, Ill.
2007 salary growth: 1.1 percent
Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
2007 salary growth: 1.1 percent
Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass.
2007 salary growth: 1.2 percent
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa
2007 salary growth: 1.2 percent
Decatur, Ala.
2007 salary growth: 1.4 percent
Dubuque, Iowa
2007 salary growth: 1.4 percent
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2007 salary growth: 1.4 percent
Amarillo, Texas
2007 salary growth: 1.5 percent
Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio
2007 salary growth: 1.6 percent
Greenville, N.C.
2007 salary growth: 1.7 percent
Gainesville, Fla.
2007 salary growth: 1.7 percent
Victoria, Texas
2007 salary growth: 1.8 percent
Sheboygan, Wis.
2007 salary growth: 1.8 percent
Tyler, Texas
2007 salary growth: 1.8 percent
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Penn.
2007 salary growth: 1.8 percent
Kate Lorenz is editor and career adviser for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Let's face it, most of us wouldn't complain if we're offered a raise. Used to be, you could expect at least a cost of l... more -
3 Reveals British Employers Worst For Cracking The Whip
A study by the mobile company 3 has revealed that British employers are the strictest in Europe when it comes to banning employees surfing social networking sites during work hours. This is despite the fact that, statistically, we're apparently the best behaved in only 35% logging onto such sites from the office compared to 41% in Spain, 56% in Germany and 58% in Italy. Oh, and while you're digesting that, apprently a recent Eurostat and TUC report labelled UK employees as the 'workaholics of Europe'.
Nonetheless, a total of 35% of UK businesses have official restrictions on accessing social networking sites, while 15% express disapproval of such misuse of office time.
Is this such a bad thing? I reckon I'd certainly be more productive if I spent less time checking on my friend's friend's nephew's latest wedding photos... A study by the mobile company 3 has revealed that British employers are the strictest in Europe when it comes to banning employees sur... more -
Toilets Flush Out Population Numbers
Discovery-News.com: Ocean City, Maryland is using wastewater to calculate population estimates. James Williams checks out the formula to see if it adds up. Discovery-News.com: Ocean City, Maryland is using wastewater to calculate population estimates. James Williams checks out the formula... more
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Australia suffering man drought
An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought".
The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia. The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas. Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males. That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work. It has caused a gender imbalance that is having far-reaching implications.
Major cities in Australia now have concentrated groups of unattached women, along with dwindling numbers of the opposite sex. Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark. "If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.
"Here is an example of one country that has drawn out a specific age demographic out of Australia which has contributed to the 'man drought'." But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different. Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males.
In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men. Demographers have compiled a so-called "Love Map" that shows how the various clusters of unattached men and women are distributed across the Australian continent. An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought". ... more -
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,146
As of Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at least 4,146 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
The figure includes eight military civilians killed in action. At least 3,370 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The AP count is two fewer than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT.
The British military has reported 176 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia and Georgia, three each; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand, Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, South Korea, one death each. As of Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008, at least 4,146 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, accor... more -
Like Food, Half of our Water is Wasted
Why does France use so much water for its food?
Jeremy previously wrote about how half of all the food produced in the world is wasted; now a new report from the Stockholm International Water Institute says that water waste is just as extreme. To produce the $48 billion in food that is wasted each year in the United States took ten trillion gallons of water.
So often our readers insist that population control is the only way to ensure that we can feed the world's population, but really, it is the same as energy- get rid of the waste, improve efficiency and it goes a long way toward solving the problem. Andrew Revkin writes in the New York Times:
"One way or another, it’s clear that improved efficiency in food production and water use will be needed in a world of growing populations seeking decent lives. As the new report explains, more than a billion people now live in areas with insufficient water. Rising demand for agricultural products that require large amounts of water, particularly beef cattle and biofuel crops, is adding to shortages." Why does France use so much water for its food? ... more -
Study finds half of all food produced worldwide is wasted
And you thought $20 billion worth of wasted food was a lot. According to a new policy brief issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Stockholm International Water Institute and the International Water Management Institute, huge amounts of food -- close to half of all food produced worldwide -- are wasted after production.
The current food crisis we are facing is not one of production, the authors argue, but one of waste. These large quantities of wasted food translate into equally large amounts of wasted water (think "virtual water"); Charlotte de Fraiture, a researcher at IWMI, told ENS that almost half of the water consumed annually to grow food is lost or wasted. And you thought $20 billion worth of wasted food was a lot. According to a new policy brief issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Orga... more -
Three in four don't trust television
Research by consultancy Deloitte shows that over a third of the public do not trust television, with a further third expressing no view either way, while only two per cent "strongly agree" that they trust British TV.
Last year saw a spate of scandals on some of the BBC’s biggest charity shows, Channel 4’s Richard and Judy, ITV’s Saturday night shows and a mis-leading BBC1 clip of the Queen.
ITV was fined a record £5.67 million in May for cheating viewers out of millions of pounds in premium-rate phone-in competitions.
The biggest culprit was Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, where producers routinely rigged competitions by picking winners on the basis of geographical convenience.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toasty/ Research by consultancy Deloitte shows that over a third of the public do not trust television, with a further third expressing no vie... more -
Move over kiddo - Children outnumbered by over-60s
People aged over 60 in the UK outnumber children for the first time, according to official figures.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed 13,262,256 people were 60 or over in mid-2007 - up from 12,928,071 the previous year.
Meanwhile, the number of under-18s fell from 13,119,654 to 13,111,023 over the same time period. People aged over 60 in the UK outnumber children for the first time, according to official figures. ... more -
Fewer teen girls having sex than ten years ago
Fewer teens are having sex compared to their counterparts a decade ago, according to data released Wednesday by Statistics Canada.
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Gap between rich and poor 'has doubled in past 30 years'
The study by the TUC union found that while disposable income for the wealthiest in society has risen to more than £700 a week, that of the poorest has only gone up marginally - and is still less than £200.
It claims more Britons are living below the breadline than 20 years ago, and that no other European country has such a gulf between rich and poor.
The report also claims inequality dramatically affects children's chances in life, with babies born to poor mothers more likely to develop health problems in later life, and working-class pupils half as likely to get five good GCSEs as their wealthier classmates.
It comes just a day after the Conservatives accused Gordon Brown of making Britain a less fair place over the past decade by overseeing a widening gap between rich and poor in health, education, living standards and tax.
The TUC is now calling on the Government to put an extra £3billion into benefits in order to meet its pledge of eradicating child poverty by 2020.
Its general secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "We need to take action to reduce inequality now. The causes of inequality are widespread, but the remedies for inequality are far clearer – raising the skill levels of those without qualifications, and tackling the gender pay gap would be a good start.
"All the evidence shows that countries with a greater degree of equality also have more social mobility."
The TUC's report, called Poverty and Inequality and Children, draws on official data from the Office for National Statistics, Eurostat and HM Revenue and Customs as well as reports from academics and charities to show how inequality has grown in recent decades, and how it harms the health, education and well-being of children.
Its figures disclose that household disposable income for the poorest 10 per cent of society was £130 a week in 1979, and had only risen by around £50 to £181 by 2006.
However, disposable income for the richest tenth rose from £407 a week to £733 over the same period.
Meanwhile, the proportion of people in poverty - earning less than 60 per cent of the national median income - has risen from 13 per cent to 21 per cent in 2004.
The union said this showed that "the gap between the top tenth of the population and the bottom has roughly doubled since 1979".
It added that inequality in Britain - using an statistical measure known as the Gini coefficient - is higher than the average for European Union countries and is only matched by that in Ireland in Italy.
The TUC report goes on: "At every stage, poverty and inequality harm the life chances of children."
It quoted data from scientific studies to show that poor children are more likely to weigh less at birth and are at greater risk of dying as babies and suffering developmental problems. Poor nutrition and accommodation are also likely to lead to asthma, meningitis and stress, it claims.
Meanwhile in education, 32 per cent of children of manual workers attained five GCSEs at A*-C grade in 2002, compared with 77 per cent of the children of professionals. The study by the TUC union found that while disposable income for the wealthiest in society has risen to more than £700 a week, that o... more -
Forget Olympic training, it's all down to star signs
Well that's what British stat-man Kenneth Mitchell has discovered after studying the star signs of every Olympic winner since the modern Games began.
He has apparently unearthed a correlation between the month an athlete was been and how likely they are to succeed in certain events.
Ingeniously, he's named the phenomenon "The Pisces Effect," due to finding out that swimmers born under the sign won 30% more medals compared to athletes with other star signs.
The overall star-sign podium places go to Capricorn, Aquarius and Aries, who all
'boasted a significantly higher number of golds.'
Can star signs really make a difference, or is it just coincidence? Well that's what British stat-man Kenneth Mitchell has discovered after studying the star signs of every Olympic winner since the... more -
Latest Statistics: How People Break Their Digital Cameras
An insurance firm have just published statistics on how their customers broke their digital cameras or had camera-related injuries. Here're some stats:
- 1/6 blame children or dogs (why are they in the same category??)
- 3/100 run over their camera with a car (just.. what?)
- 3/4 drop their cameras onto a "hard surface", into water, or by falling onto it and using it to cushion their fall
- 1/10 "fell over" when taking shots, "often into water."
- 9/100 fall with their camera in their pocket or in their hand
"One photographer reported: 'I was taking some shots in the garden. As I changed the lens, I lost my grip on the camera. I tried to cushion its fall by sticking out my foot but ended up “volleying” it across the concrete slabs and down the steps.'"
Dear me... An insurance firm have just published statistics on how their customers broke their digital cameras or had camera-related injuries. H... more -
How to Dominate China in the Olympic Rankings
American media!
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10 Countries With The Most Landmines
Land mines are controversial because they remain dangerous after the conflict in which they were deployed, killing and injuring civilians and rendering land impassable and unusable for decades. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines has sought to prohibit their use, culminating in the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, known informally as the Ottawa Treaty. The UN estimates that with current technology, it will take nearly 1,100 years to clear all the mines in the world. Land mines are controversial because they remain dangerous after the conflict in which they were deployed, killing and injuring civili... more
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Here's A Map Of Nations That Don't Use The Metric System
Americans, give up your imperialistic measurements!
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Bloggers arrest is on rise
It plots the number of bloggers who have been incarcerated over the past few years, based on data collected by the World Information Access project. The number of incidents it tracks went from five arrests in 2003 to 35 last year. As blogging expands internationally, so do the risk of speaking one’s mind. (Something many of us take for granted).
Most of those arrests are in countries with oppressive regimes, such as Egypt, China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. But bloggers have been arrested in Canada, France, Greece, and even the U.S. (with Josh Wolf being one of the most famous incidents—he spent the better part of a year in jail for refusing to turn over journalistic video footage to a grand jury).
A few involve cases of alleged terrorism or pedophilia, but the majority involve some form of political speech. Some typical examples:
Reza Valizadeh (Iran; November, 2007). “For revealing Iranian president’s overpriced dogs that his security team uses.”
Charles Leblanc (Canada; June, 2006): “For taking pictures at a conference for his blog.”
Josh Wolf (USA; August, 2006): “For videotaping a burning police car.”
Hu Jia (China; December, 2007): “For posting his vocal critiques of human rights abuses and environmental degradation in China and calling the Olympics a ‘human rights disaster.’”
Reza Valizadeh (Iran; November, 2007): “For revealing Iranian president’s overpriced dogs that his security team uses.”
Nay Phone Latt (Burma; January, 2008): “For posting pictures of monks and people demonstrating on the streets.”
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. It plots the number of bloggers who have been incarcerated over the past few years, based on data collected by the World Information A... more
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