Economic Numbers

Interesting:
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/sp150611.pdf

This stood out to me: Chart 17: Housing affordability looks less favourable using interest rates
at long-term norms

Tells me that it's actually not a good idea to buy right now, since these rates will increase.

String vs StringBuffer

The following article explains with simple examples when it is more efficient to use the + operator vs StringBuffer.append to concatenate Strings.  It explains that the choice depends on the nature of the strings.  Use + if they are all resolvable at compile time.  Use StringBuffer if they are only resolvable at run time.

http://www.precisejava.com/javaperf/j2se/StringAndStringBuffer.htm

Callable vs Runnable

Difference between Java's Callable and Runnable interfaces:
http://geekexplains.blogspot.com/2008/05/callable-interface-vs-runnable.html

Growing companies

Great list for those looking for growing companies.  This could be used to compare companies while doing your research for stock investment. http://list.profitguide.com/rankings/profit200/2011/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=0

Distributed Java EE Approach to Collatz Problem

I found this to be a very interesting article.  It tests the Collatz Problem through a distributed solution utilizing many Java EE related technologies.  It measures the performance of different combinations of hardware and software solutions.  Would like to recreate this on a my own distributed network.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/CollatzProblem.html
http://wiki.eclipse.org/EclipseLink/Examples/Distributed

Hope, optimalism, perfectionism, positive psychology

I just read the wikipedia articles on hope and optimalism; I'm going to read the ones on positive psychology  and perfectionism later.  So far, I think optimalism is better than perfectionism because it creates less anticipation.  Less anticipation means less disappointment when facing failure.  Less disappointment translates to better mood and a quicker ability to learn from failure.  Combined with hope, optimalism can lead to betterment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimism#Optimalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope#Use_in_Psychology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfectionism_(psychology)

Expert Systems

Quickly read this article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_system

I wonder if the UN or other well-funded organisations have tried to create an expert system to aid in decision making for conflict management, international development, and other big world issues.