Wrong Number
The most extraordinary mathematician of the 20th century celebrated his 80th birthday, crazy and alone
The most extraordinary genius in mathematics turned 80 in March, but no parties were held. His grateful students didn’t give speeches about him. Mathematicians didn’t convene at a grand conference in his honor. No one even lit a candle on his birthday cake. For more than 15 years, Alexandre Grothendieck has lived in self-imposed isolation in a tiny village in the Pyrenees. His rages have discouraged even his most determined visitors.
North Lauderdale City Commission Wants To Divide Florida Into 2 States
(AP) One city commission wants to divide Florida into two states: North Florida and South Florida. The North Lauderdale City Commission says in a resolution that it's not confident in state leaders when it comes to collecting and spending their own money.
It also says it would be "in the best interests of the citizens and residents" to divide the state.
The Collapse of America's Service Economy
Recent high profile bankruptcies of mainstay American retailers, such as The Sharper Image and Linens 'n Things, as well as the proposed mergers between Blockbuster/Circuit City and Delta/Northwest, and the admissions from the nation's leading student lenders that their business models are no longer viable, mark the beginning of a long overdue overhaul of the American economy. In short, the economy will be getting smaller and more expensive.
Police Charge Reality-Show Director With False Imprisonment
APOPKA, Fla. -- Police in Central Florida said they've arrested a man who allegedly held young women against their will in a house to shoot a reality show called "Pauper to Princess."
Police say four women forced their way out of the Apopka house on Saturday. The show's director is charged with false imprisonment. He was released on $3,000 bail.Executive producer Jim Johnson denies the allegations. He says the women had been allowed to leave the house on recent weekends.
Small firm airs Wal-Mart's unguarded video moments
Wal-Mart's internal meetings are on display in three decades worth of videos made by a Kansas production company scrambling to stay in business after Wal-Mart stopped using the firm.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. dropped longtime contractor Flagler Productions in 2006. In response to losing its biggest customer, the small company has opened its archive, for a fee, to researchers who include plaintiffs' lawyers and union critics seeking clips of unguarded moments at the world's largest retailer.
School bans birthday cake
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Children in a New Zealand school have been banned from bringing cakes to share on their birthdays, due to new government healthy eating guidelines.
Pupils at Oteha Valley primary school north of Auckland have been told they are allowed to celebrate their birthdays, but the cake must stay at home, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
The Ministry of Education has been on a fat-busting crusade, introducing sweeping guidelines against unhealthy food in New Zealand schools.
Roommates.com can be sued for violating fair housing laws, court rules
The law may temper the freewheeling nature of the Internet after all.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided Thursday that a website may be found liable for violating fair housing laws by matching roommates according to gender, sexual orientation and parenthood.
Federal law protecting websites "was not meant to create a lawless, no-man's land on the Internet," the court in San Francisco said in an 8-3 ruling.
Capitalism That Wasn't
A good flim flam needs a good mountebank and a good mark. Two weeks ago, we pointed out that Wall Street was full of bright cads and dull sharks. Then, last week, we showed that conceited humbuggers run the central banks. Today, it is the politicians we come, not to bury, but to praise. They did their work well; they set up the marks.
The Brits Are Drowning In Debt
At one point, Alexis Hall had more than 50 pairs of designer shoes and handbags. It never occurred to the 39-year-old media relations executive from Glasgow that her £31,500 in debt ($63,000) would be a problem.
“It was so easy to get the loans and the credit that you almost think the goods are a gift from the shop,” she said. “You don’t fully realize that it’s real money you are spending until you actually sit down and consolidate your bills and then it’s a shock.”
eBay Bear Stearns Auction
Via Minyanville
More Weird Economic News:
