Religion, Science, and Politics

I believe in evolution. That alone makes me enemy of conservative Christian. Even though I count myself as a Christian, for the moral value it represents, I don't think Christian will welcome me as one of their own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_support_for_evolution#US_Religious_denominations_that_dispute_evolution

WSJ reported a story about a young Egyptian Christian being beaten up for refusing to convert to Islam. Another story about an Islamic clergy cutting off a man's ear for the same reason.

Compare to Islam I have much more affinity to Christians. Christians are civil and more tolerant of religious difference.

Europe - Dec 19, 2011

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann urged Europe to stick to stricter budget discipline and forget about one shot solutions after financial markets judged that another EU summit had failed to resolve the Eurozone’s debt crisis. Speaking separately, they rebuffed pressure for the European Central Bank to intervene decisively to stop the crisis escalating. Merkel told the German parliament on Wednesday it would take years, not weeks, to overcome the debt problems but Europe would emerge stronger. Weidmann made clear his opposition to ramping up purchases of troubled Eurozone states' debt, saying he was "no fan" of the existing limited bond buying program. He also said the Bundesbank would only provide fresh funds for the International Monetary Fund to help fight the crisis if countries beyond Europe do so too. Weidmann told journalists the ECB's mandate prevented it from embarking on unlimited bond purchases and that experience showed this would inevitably lead to inflation anyway.

Note to self

What is my next job?

After 5 years in my current job I have come to a point where every aspect of this job I feel competent and proficient. But I also come to a point where I feel very little learning and growth.

Client specific plan rules are all documented. If I remember anything I will likely forget it in a while. There is nothing inherently valuable in knowing these rules. You can always read them and review a few cases to a point you can do the job.

Can I be a CSM or PM? These roles are a step closer to the client so relationship and negotiation skills are a lot more important.

You can no longer be self-reliant. You will have to rely on others to deliver. That means management skills are more important than technical skills.

Can you manage the relationship?
Can you lead and influence the team to deliver results?
Can you find a balance between client's need and your company's cost?
How do you keep your team motivated and working for a common good?

This is a note to myself so I can measure my progress down the road. It is also a reminder why I move out of my comfort zone into a role that I have never played.

Ms Freeland called Obama's Kansas speech brave and honest in the sense that it avoided the easy explanation of inequality - campaign contribution, low taxes, and lax regulation. Obama speech explains the winner take all society by two forces: globalization and technology advancement. Companies can do more with less and capital can move out of a country in just a few clicks.

Obama and 99 percent

Evans urges Fed action

Chicago Fed President Charles Evans came out today in favor of more explicit guidance on how the Fed likely will react to changes in certain measures of unemployment and inflation. He calls for a zero fed funds target rate until the unemployment rate falls below the natural rate unless inflation is running over 3 percent. Evans states that the U.S. is in a liquidity trap, suggesting that it is OK to let inflation run above target in the near term. The Chicago Fed president sees core inflation remaining moderate, nonetheless, due to high unemployment and resource slack.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/05/us-usa-fed-evans-idUSTRE7B41LC20111205