Exasperated Calculator

Exasperated Calculator: Star Trek & Economics

  • Market exchange rates

    [According to recent exchange rates, Australian GDP per capita is higher than US…](http://johnquiggin.com/index.php/archives/2007/11/06/international-comparisons/). While the normal standard is to use purchasing power adjustments instead of market rates, it’s still interesting because of the error margins involved.

  • Law Enforcement

    [A list of agencies with armed officers in the US](http://www.fourmilab.ch/fourmilog/archives/2007-11/000584.html). I would love to know why the Government Printing Office has seven…

  • Election07: Stations of the Cross Edition

    *Announcements*: * ALP announces [$10m for the Australia Council over 4 years](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/10/2087364.htm). * Coalition pledges [$50m for veterans](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/10/2087358.htm) and an [ABC Childrens Channel ($82m)](http://www.liberal.org.au/about/documents/ABCChildrensChannel.pdf). *Polls*: [AC Nielsen Online](http://www.pollbludger.com/695) ALP 56. 14 days to go.

  • Bowls for the inattentive

    [Bowls that tilt when filled to their defined weight](http://www.royalvkb.com/sitemap/index.asp?page=1&submenu=1&prodid=%7B0B39FFDC-8878-415C-9D38-3C19274969E6%7D). Clever. Wish I could work out how it works.

  • Remote watering

    [An Internet enabled sprinkler controller](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/going-green/cyber+rain-xci-waters-your-lawn-when-the-internet-commands-it-320687.php). Run your garden from your computer. Soon no one need ever go outside.

  • Election07: Jamie Oliver edition

    Another quiet day. Running out of policies, getting towards time to vote… *Polls*: [Morgan phone](http://www.pollbludger.com/692) ALP 56, [Morgan face to face](http://www.pollbludger.com/693) ALP 62. 15 days to go.

  • Best lawnmower ever

    [A lawnmower shaped like an F1 car](http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/lawn-care/f1-inspired-lawnmower-yardwork-just-got-a-lot-sexier-320666.php). Awesome. If I had one I’d possibly even mow the lawn once or twice.

  • Testing the crowds

    [Predicting weather using polls](http://www.cumul.us/). I’m on the expert side of the expert-crowd debate. But I’ll be interested to see if this works.

  • Election07: 286 edition

    Quiet day. Nothing national announced. *Quote of the day*: [Wayne Swan on interest rates](http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/swan-dodges-interest-rate-question/2007/11/08/1194329357820.html?s_cid=rss_news): > “I can’t make irresponsible promises like John Howard has been making” Not everyone has John’s talents, after all. 16 days to go.

  • Nuclear Photography

    [French nuclear tests in the 1960s](http://flickr.com/photos/7969902@N07/sets/72157600253743362/detail/). Very cool images, but somewhat disturbing too.