Devil in Pound Sterling and WebMoney

“Pound” is missing from the infamous “The Devil’s Dictionary” of A.Bierce, first published in 1906. Many of its observations resonate more strongly now than when Bierce first made them . “Money” is:

A blessing that is of no advantage to us excepting when we part with it. An evidence of culture and a passport to polite society. Supportable property.

“Pounds Sterling” originates in 12th-century. It derives from “Easterling Silver” (the metal and techniques for refining it) which took its name from the Easterling area of Germany, noted for its 92.5% pure/hard/high-quality coin-grade silver.

History accelerates. We now have WebMoney, EntroPay, NetEller, …

Noah, human irrationality and vision of Communist America

Noah got drunk drinking wine (yayin) – God told him to enjoy it. Bible says that God gave wine to make men glad.

Wine makes us irrational, or does it? Even without it, there is much evidence that we are irrational. Halo effect, cognitive dissonance, Chameleon effect (mimicking increases/decreases likability), and so on and forth.

How else to explain Yo-Yo world cups since 1932?

Talking of irrationality, Trotsky conducted a thought-experiment about America becoming a Communist country. He predicted that, by 2037, America will produce a new breed of Man and in Communistic America, Americans will stop chewing gum in 3 years!

Absurd laws in England and disbelief in American Constitution

In England, there are some absurd laws:

It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament
A pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants

In America, absurdity=(religion+politics)/law. Nixon was Quaker, hosting religious services in White House. Reagan’s NS sessions were held in presence of religious scholars and based on notions like Paradise. Bush admitted taking his instructions from God. According to one survey, 65% of Americans believe Founding Fathers intended America to be Christian, and 55% believe Constitution establishes a Christian nation. Hogwash.

Information from religious search engines will show what your startup can learn from religion. Good luck.

Innovative beer virtually and in poems

What costs $0.99, has been bought about 1 million times, and generated about $2 million and counting in revenues? An iBeer. That’s right, a simulated iPhone beer.

“I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety,” wrote William Shakespeare in Henri V. Ironically, beer consumption in his country is in sharp decline, although worldwide it increases, with China and America in lead.

And innovation in beer production or delivery? Beer launching fridge, temperature-sensitive Coors beer, beer-milk, beer for dogs, scratch-n-strip beer featuring nice ladies, … exist.

And the top 10 beer poems features Poe, Rumi, Baudelaire and others.

Chinese toilet paper, Hitler and 30 mins

Chinese invented toilet paper in 2^nd century BC. By 6^th century AD, toilet paper was used with inscribed quotations/commentaries of Confucian classics.

Average life expectancy in China was then 28. Considering it takes about 384 trees to make toilet paper that man uses in a lifetime (average 67), it gives about 5.5 trees/year for one man and at least (low-efficiency production in ancient China) 154 trees for an ancient Chinese.

Not only Chinese had fun. During WW2, humor and patriotism were inseparable. Check Hitler’s depictions on WW2 toilet papers. Yet another creative strain of Allies?

Since 2010, things got more economic. 30mins + 40-A4-sheets = one toilet paper roll.

great names and namethis

Great names degrade instead of elevating those who know not how to sustain them

quipped the great duc born on rue des Petits Champs.

A look at some of great names in history proves illuminating, etymologically. Attila – father, Genghis Khan – universal lord, Ptolemy – aggressive, Pompey – five. Majority of great names stem from (frequently used) nouns, adjectives or linguistic permutations. A name is portent of history/culture, playing an essential role in a person’s life.

Whether $99 constitute a great amount or no, for it NameThis successfully commercializes idea/importance of names by providing a quick/painless name suggestions during 48 hours.