USA: A Banana Republic?

The New York Times reports this morning that the “income gap” in the United States continues to grow. According to a study of IRS data conducted by Emmanuel Saez of the University of California, Berkeley and Thomas Piketty of the Paris School of Economics, the top 10% of Americans now enjoy a greater share of the nation’s wealth than at any time since the eve of the Great Depression: “The new data also shows that the top 300,000 Americans collectively enjoyed almost as much income as the bottom 150 million Americans. Per person, the top group received 440 times as much as the average person in the bottom half earned, nearly doubling the gap from 1980.”

Intervals or Tempo Runs?

When it comes to improving your race times, quality (intensity) beats quantity.

Trying to do too much

This New York Times article warns of the productivity pitfalls of multitasking: "Several research reports, both recently published and not yet published, provide evidence of the limits of multitasking. The findings, according to neuroscientists, psychologists and management professors, suggest that many people would be wise to curb their multitasking behavior when working in an office, studying or driving a car."

No Deal for Morneau

Contract negotiations between the Twins and 2006 MVP Justin Morneau are off for now. Gopher Girl’s hope was that the first baseman and management would reach a deal similar to Joe Mauer’s that would have kept Mourneau in a multiyear deal. Now it’s wait and see.

The Great Wall of China

Check your favorite website to see if it is censored in China.

I'm BACK!

Gopher Girl has been on vacation, and so much happened while she was away. For example, Runner's World took a cue from the LBOs and announced that it was acquiring the Running Times.

Subprime Loans, Toil and Trouble

In the last two years many skeptics began warning that the red-hot housing market and adjustable-rate loans would blend into a toxic brew. Last year, subprime loans totaled $600 billion, or about 20 percent of all mortgages, up from $120 billion and 5 percent in 2001, according to Inside Mortgage Finance. More than half of subprime loans have adjustable rates.

Snow flakes everywhere!

Just how much snow is out there? Check out this snow cover map of the North Central States.