La Regione Marche ha reso noti i costi del Congresso eucaristico recentemente svoltosi ad Ancona, come riporta tra gli altri Vivere Ancona. Si parla di una spesa complessiva di sette milioni di euro, anche se non è noto ancora quanto abbia stanziato di preciso la Conferenza episcopale italiana. Il governo ha finanziato l’evento con due milioni, la Regione con un milione e mezzo, senza contare altre spese della Provincia e del Comune di Ancona.
Congresso eucaristico ad Ancona: “Spesi 7 milioni di euro” - UAAR Ultimissime
(via uaar-it)
Correlations among US stocks have hit their highest point since the financial crisis.
(via Marginal Revolution)
which roughly translates to:
The only reason it won’t matter whether you own utility stocks or tech stocks or health care stocks is if the world’s major banks can’t open for business the next day.
Robert W. Gehl just published a very interesting article in First Monday, a peer-reviewed journal of cultural studies on the Internet. Don’t be put off by the scholarly lexicon, it’s quite a fascinating read for everyone involved in social media and Web 2.0. Abstract:
Drawing on the work of Gilles Deleuze, Eva Illouz, and Mark Andrejevic, this paper critiques the personal branding literature, particularly as it applies to Web 2.0 social media. I first describe the three–part logic of personal branding: dividuation, emotional capitalism, and autosurveillance. Next, in a sort of mirror image to the self–help literature of personal branding, I offer a critical “how to” guide to branding oneself in Web 2.0. Finally, I conclude with a discussion of why personal branding can be seen as a rational choice, given the circumstances of globalized capitalism and precarious employment. Individuals who brand themselves willfully adopt the logic of capitalism in order to build their human capital. However, I ultimately argue that the obsession with personal branding is no antidote for life in precarious times.
How to Lie with Design Research: Same Data, Different Findings by Dan Saffer.
“There are three types of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.”
Mark Twain
Short lecture by Kurt Vonnegut on the ‘simple shapes of stories.’
Deep in the rainforests of the Indian state of Meghalaya, bridges are not built, they’re grown. For more than 500 years locals have guided roots and vines from the native Ficus elastica (rubber tree) across rivers, using hollowed out trees to create root guidance systems. When the roots and vines reach the opposite bank they are allowed to take root. Some of the bridges are over 100 feet long and can support the weight of 50 people.
WOW.