January 2012
4 posts
1 tag
Apple posts record quarterly revenue →
Apple just posted spectacular holiday quarter results. Revenue of $46 billion blew away their previous record of $28 billion, and profit of $13 billion is larger than Google’s entire revenue.
More than half those revenues come from iPhones, too, with unit sales of 37 million way above the previous record of 20 million. So, no basis in that whole “The iPhone 4S is OK, but it’s no...
2 tags
Misinterpretation masterclass
Writers in The Australian continues to misinterpret scientific statements on climate change. A recent press release from the World Meteorological Organization reported on the temperature in 2011, noting that it continues the trend of years much warmer than the long-term average:
At present, 2011’s nominal value ranks as the equal 10th highest on record, and the 13 warmest years have all...
3 tags
China is neither America's factory nor its banker
The Motley Fool, an investing website, has some analysis of commonly-repeated statements about how the US is in economic thrall to China, which are actually not true. The key highlights:
Misconception: Most of what Americans spend their money on is made in China.
Fact: Just 2.7% of personal consumption expenditures go to Chinese-made goods and services. 88.5% of U.S. consumer spending is on...
1 tag
Geoengineering and liberal biases against science →
It’s not just conservatives who dismiss science that doesn’t suit them.
While there is a lot of evidence that people with conservative (“hierarchical individualist”) leanings are more likely to ignore science that conflicts with their worldview than liberals (“egalitarian communitaritarians”), a new study shows that the right context can reduce liberal support...