Malena Ernman

http://www.malenaernman.com/

Convert pdf to jpg

This command will convert all .pdf files in a directory into a 800px (wide or height, whichever is smaller) image (with the aspect ratio kept) .jpg.

for file in `ls *.pdf`; do convert -verbose -colorspace RGB -resize 800 -interlace none \
 -density 300 -quality 80 $file `echo $file | sed 's/\.pdf$/\.jpg/'`; done

http://www.shell-fu.org/lister.php?id=627 

The Trough of No Value

"The problem is that many kinds of objects go through a period in their potential lifespans when they don't "pencil out"—they're not worth keeping or preserving because they're not worth any money. Here's an approximate graph of the typical value of many types of objects. The x-axis is time and the y-axis is value; the horizontal line is $0."


http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/02/the-trough-of-no-value.html

Total quality or performance appraisal: choose one.

"Most advocates of total quality believe that total quality management (TQM) and performance appraisal are incompatible. For them, company managers can choose to promote either of these two approaches but not both. Since fundamental TQM requirements contradict the basic elements of performance appraisal, it would be impossible to combine them. Thus, companies may have to reexamine their approaches to corporate leadership."

http://deming-network.org/files/tqmorpa.txt

"At the center of the case against performance appraisal are the fundamental values and principles of TQM. TQM requires customer-consciousness, systems-thinking, an understanding of variation, an appreciation of teamwork, a mastery of improvement methods, and an understanding of the process of personal motivation and learning. These very requirements of TQM are subverted by performance appraisal. TQM requires us to understand, control, and improve processes for the benefit of the customer. Performance appraisal aims at controlling an individual's behavior to the satisfaction of his or her manager. The two approaches represent a fundamental choice for leaders: one or the other; not both. "

[...]

Cycling plan to blame drivers for all crashes

"Ministers are considering making motorists legally responsible for accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians, even if they are not at fault.

Government advisers are pushing for changes in the civil law that will make the most powerful vehicle involved in a collision automatically liable for insurance and compensation purposes."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6841326.ece

Celestia 3D Space Simulation Software For Linux / Windows / OS X

"Celestia is a real-time visual space simulation astronomy program. It is a cross platform, open source software and released under the GNU General Public License. NASA and ESA have used Celestia in their educational and for interfacing to trajectory analysis software. It allows users to travel through an extensive universe, modeled after reality, at any speed, in any direction and at any time in history. Celestia displays and interacts with objects ranging in scale from artificial satellites to entire galaxies in three dimensions using OpenGL. It is a perfect software for astronomer, educator, student, and teacher for astronomy purpose."

http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/celestia-astronomy-linux-program.html

Smoking bans 'cut heart attacks'

"Earlier this month it was announced that heart attack rates fell by about 10% in England in the year after the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in July 2007 - which is more than originally anticipated.

But the latest work, based on the results of numerous different studies collectively involving millions of people, indicated that smoking bans have reduced heart attack rates by as much as 26% per year."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8267523.stm

Tibetan monks need permission to reincarnate

"In one of history's most absurd acts of totalitarianism, China banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs in 2007, the law, which strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." "

http://oddee.com/item_96828.aspx


http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/22/china-to-tibetan-bud.html

Pregnant smoking 'psychosis link'

"Mothers who smoke during pregnancy put their children at greater risk of psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, a study suggests.

A UK survey of 12-year-olds found those whose mothers had smoked were 20% more likely to suffer such problems. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8283723.stm