Oooops...

[Lamplighter]

I think we need a thread for public blunders...

Los Angeles Times
Michael Hiltzik
4/16/13

How an Excel error fueled panic over the federal debt

One of the most fearsome statistics in the war against the federal deficit
has always been the country's ratio of debt to gross domestic product.
When this ratio reaches 90%, the argument goes, watch out --
<snip>

This idea comes from Harvard economists Ken Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart,
who featured it in a 2010 paper and popularized it in a book entitled
"This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly."<snip>

A new study by three researchers at the University of Massachusetts finds
that Rogoff and Reinhart made several mistakes that invalidate their thesis.<snip>

Most important, they made a spreadsheet error that resulted in their leaving five countries
out of an all-important average of countries with higher than 90% debt-to-GDP ratios.
By restoring the full average, the UMass authors say, the growth rate for countries
in that range becomes 2.2%, not the -0.1% cited by Rogoff and Reinhart.
That makes the average growth rate at that ratio "not dramatically different
than when debt/GDP ratios are lower."<snip>

Rogoff and Reinhart haven't yet responded to the UMass paper.
But if the new analysis holds up, it knocks a key leg out from under the argument
that our economic growth depends on cutting the deficit and reducing the national debt without delay.
<snip>

Now, who will be the first to quote Regan and Chenney

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I think we need a thread for public blunders...

How an Excel error fueled panic over the federal debt


Now, who will be the first to quote Regan and Chenney

You mean Reagan and Cheney? Is that a public blunder?

I couldn't help it. All I could think was "I know what love is, Chenney."

And it was ironic. Wasn't it? Is that ironic? Everyone gets all weird about what is really ironic but it seems kind of ironic and therefore worth a chuckle.

[Lamplighter]

[BigV]

spelling matters

[footfootfoot]

not as much as speling

[elSicomoro]

Our esteemed village idiot governor here in Kansas had a spreadsheet error himself recently:

Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director said Friday that he offered his resignation after a $2 billion error on a spreadsheet found its way into a chart the governor used to claim credit for spending cuts that never happened.

...

While the actual state budget book was accurate, the $2 billion error in spending was incorporated into a PowerPoint chart that Brownback used for months, as he sought support for his fiscal policies from influential groups across the state, including the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Brownback’s chart showed state all-funds spending peaking at $16 billion in 2010, the last year of Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson’s administration. Spending that year actually was $14.04 billion.

Based on the incorrect number, Brownback claimed credit for the "first bending down of the cost curve in 40 years for the state."

However, the corrected figures showed the state spent more under Brownback’s administration than Parkinson’s.

full story

[tw]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

not as much as speling

Did you mean an early example? Aaron's daughter? Eventually, even she learned.

[Lamplighter]

Mitt Romney held a political retreat in Utah yesterday.
Billed as a Republican strategist, Nicolle Nikpour said on a tv talk show today:

"Romney is the adult Chucky, he just keeps on coming back"

Oooops !

[Lamplighter]

Forbes
6/15/13

He's Not Dead! Reuters Publishes Premature Obituary Of George Soros

Reuters published an obituary of billionaire investor
and philanthropist George Soros on Thursday.
Only one problem: he’s not dead.

In a wide-ranging 1,222 word report written by reporter Todd Eastham,
Reuters eulogized Soros with this fill-in-the-blank lede: “George Soros,
who died XXX at age XXX, was a predatory and hugely successful financier and investor,
who argued paradoxically for years against the same sort
of free-wheeling capitalism that made him billions.”

It was his older brother, Paul, who died.

[Lamplighter]

Tom's Hardware
By Jane McEntegart
June 23, 2013

Facebook Security Flaw Exposed Details of Six Million

Facebook says it recently received a report about a bug
that allowed some of a user's contact information to be accessed
by people who either had some contact information about that user
or some connection to them.
<snip>
Facebook says that roughly six million users had email addresses
or numbers shared as a result of this bug.
<snip>
Facebook is emailing affected users and regulators in Canada,
the U.S. and Europe have been notified about the incident.

Don't worry, the info was exposed only to people who want to be your friend.
.
.

[Lamplighter]

BBC
'Master key' to Android phones uncovered

A "master key" that could give cyber-thieves unfettered access
to almost any Android phone has been discovered by security research firm BlueBox.

The bug could be exploited to let an attacker do what they want
to a phone including stealing data, eavesdropping or using it to send junk messages.

The loophole has been present in every version of the Android operating system released since 2009.

Google said it currently had no comment to make on BlueBox's discovery.

Oh, by the way, there is this too...

BBC
3 May 2013

US military approves Android phones for soldiers

The approval is the start of a process that will see
many different types of mobile devices used by US soldiers.

Approval for other Android devices as well as Apple phones
and tablets is expected in late May.

Before now, phone maker Blackberry was the only firm
whose products were approved for use by US service personnel.
<snip>

[Lamplighter]

I'm sorry this rocket launch failed, but the video is spectacular.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I'm sorry this rocket launch failed,

The Proton M has destroyed about 10 satellites in the past few years. This one destroyed, I believe, three satellites.

[ZenGum]

I'm not sure if this is a public blunder or just being an enormous jerk, but:

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/t...amber-guns-ok/

The Texas Department of Public Safety forced women to hand over their tampons and pads before entering the Senate chamber today. Not only that, but they were also forcing diabetics to hand over sugar packets and other diabetes supplies which are lifelines when dealing with low blood glucose levels.

And the kicker — those with concealed handgun licenses who wanted to enter the Senate chamber were not only allowed to keep their handguns, but they were allowed to bypass the long lines and enter through a “special” CHL (concealed handgun license) line.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That makes sense.
Everyone knows women are dangerous at that time of the month.
Diabetics shouldn't have a problem if they are calm and not causing trouble, but if they do they'll fall over dead.
Now the persons with concealed carry permits are obviously there to prevent trouble.

Oh, and it's Texas.