The world (west) hates Russia because it’s resurgent? In the 90’s under “democracy” there were 2.5 abortions for every live birth (that’s an unimaginable statistic where one in 3.5 pregnancies make it to a baby) whereas coincidentally just after Putin took power the dramatic drop meant that 0.42 abortions for every live birth (5times less relatively). In this post-modern age where everything that is anti-life (anti reproduction) is venerated maybe that’s another cross to add to Putin’s sins; why didn’t Russian women continuing aborting their future towards a so-called golden democracy (not that the rest of the ex-USSR did any better after communism)?
Tag: Western civilisation
Mathew Martoma = “Triple Package” + Sociopathy
The extent of Mathew Martoma’s fraud at Harvard is almost farcical. The fact that someone like him (born Ajai Mathew Thomas) could succeed in high finance tells you something about high finance. But, it also tells you about the toxic brew of individuals with high intellectual competency but low moral compass. These are far more dangerous than garden variety sociopaths, because their success is contingent upon eating away at the fabric of civil society.
But another aspect hinted at in the story is the role that pressure driven Asian immigrant cultures play in incentivizing this sort of behavior.* To be frank I suspect many Asian immigrant parents might be able tolerate a little corner cutting if their child could make it to Harvard. Naturally when you have someone with sociopathic tendencies like Martoma that tends to be interpreted as carte blanche toward a success-at-any-price mode of operation.
Of course culture is not destiny. The man prosecuting Martoma is himself a 1.5 generation Indian American.
* This sort of problem also crops up in corporations where all rewards are based on outcomes. In which case there is a strong incentive to cheat the system.
Cafe Le Whore and other stories
A new book by Pakistani-American author Moazzam Sheikh.
I think its brilliant and original. Moazzam is not interested in writing “Pakistani” fiction or “Western” fiction. Just stories, about people, in strange places, sometimes doing strange things, but always human, all too human…
Funny too. Very funny at places.
All in all, a fresh, different and disturbing new Pakistani-American voice. Migration, migrants, Lahore, Samnabad and the People’s Republic of San Francisco play a role in most of the stories, as they do in the life of the author. But the themes are universal. Check it out.
Full Disclosure: I am related to the author, who is also a friend.
Hello…BP
It is a great day and a great feeling. Thanks Zachary (and Razib). Probably no readers…just yet.regards
The best of Goldman shines if not Kashmir then Cali?
Kashmiri Pandit Neel Kashkari is planning to run for Governor of California; it seems that Indian-Americans (FCs at that) are just gravitating towards the civil service & politics.
Of course even more interesting is his background as a Goldman banker, who really do seem to be Masters of the Universe.
Just a short sample of the very familiar household names of these GS Alums (via Wikipedia):
- Mark Carney – Governor of the Bank of Canada[207] (now BoE)
- Chetan Bhagat – Author
- Fischer Black – Co–author of the Black–Scholes equation and the Black-Derman-Toy model
- Jon Corzine – Former CEO of MF Global, Inc., former Democratic Governor (2006–2010) and U.S. Senator (2001–2006), New Jersey
- Jim Cramer – Founder of TheStreet.com, best selling author, and host of Mad Money on CNBC
- Rahm Emanuel – Mayor of Chicago (2011–)[208]
- Arthur Levitt – Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (1993–2001)[209]
- Dambisa Moyo – Zambian economist and author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa
- Henry Paulson – Former United States Secretary of the Treasury (2006–2009)
- Romano Prodi – Prime Minister of Italy (1996–1998, 2006–2008) and President of the European Commission (1999–2004)[210]
- Robert Rubin – Former Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, ex–Chairman of Citigroup
- Gene Sperling – Director of the National Economic Council (2011–)[211]
- Lawrence Summers – Secretary of the Treasury of the United States (1999–2001)[212]
- John Thain – Former Chairman and CEO, Merrill Lynch, and former chairman of the NYSE
- Robert Zoellick – United States Trade Representative (2001–2005), Deputy Secretary of State (2005–2006), World Bank President (2007–2012)
BP’s new home
So it seems that we are exiled from our old home where more than 3yrs of memories (and arguments, discussions, opinions) reside.
I of course have always been more comfortable with blogger than Word after all my first blog has always managed to eke out a home here.
I’ve never known whether BP still has a space despite an exploding twitter conversation on the Sub-continent. Are we marked out for extinction or does there exist a hazy middle ground between snap 140 character opinions and prestige journalism.
I guess it’s up to us to find out. Welcome back world..