Second fiddle

Good advice to students

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Best viral ads from 2011 according to Ad Age

2012-01-05T12:23:00.001-08:00

Love this one:

Not so much:

iPhone as cultural phenomenon:

Meh:

Hilarious, but probably too scary for you, Katie:

There's always room for Isaiah Mustafa:

Lionel, king of the world:

Chrome taking over the world (but Lionel won't let it):

Best Super Bowl ad:

Keep Isaiah:

Every ATM should be this way

2011-12-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The World's Best Biscuits. End of Story. | Serious Eats : Recipes

2011-11-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

I think I need to go home right now.

Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Pretzel Bark | The Cherry on Top

2011-11-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Pretzel Bark | The Cherry on Top

OWSers should read this

2011-11-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

Memo to the Occupy protesters: here are ten things we evil capitalists really think

Conformity in the name of diversity

2011-11-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

I find George Will to be one of the more insightful contrarians on the opinions page. Here's a good article from him again.

For those not interested in clicking, here's an excerpt:

Although Vanderbilt is a private institution, its policy is congruent with “progressive” public policy, under which society shall be made to progress up from a multiplicity of viewpoints to a government-supervised harmony. Vanderbilt’s policy, formulated in the name of enlarging rights, is another skirmish in the progressives’ struggle to deny more and more social entities the right to deviate from government-promoted homogeneity of belief. Such compulsory conformity is, of course, enforced in the name of diversity.

A deficit is not a deficit

2011-10-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

The word deficit is used in two political context as those it had the same meaning in each. It isn't.

When we talk about the federal budget deficit we are talking about the government spending more than it raises in taxes in a given year. Over time, government can't spend more than it taxes. To do so this year, it has to borrow, which means today's spending gets paid for later, by us or our children.

When we talk about the trade deficit, we are talking about net imports. The US runs a trade deficit with China because they ship us more than we ship them in goods. My family runs a trade deficit with A Fresh Market - they sell me more than I sell them. My family runs a trade surplus with my supplier - I sell them more than they sell me. Resolving a trade imbalance is non-sensical. There's no reason any two entities should be equal in trade. That doesn't mean the ledger doesn't balance. It does. If China gives us a bunch of stuff for little green pieces of paper, they can either buy our stuff with it or invest in our country. Either way, the dollars come back. Whether you area country or a company, it is not a bad thing for people to want to invest in you.

Budget deficit and trade deficit sound like related concepts. They aren't.

George Will gets it

2011-10-14T14:35:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth Warren doesn't.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Anderson Cooper sticks up for me

2011-10-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

test post

2011-10-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

2011-10-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

Good advice

2011-10-04T21:28:00.001-07:00

For freshman of any school and age.

Early to bed, early to rise

2011-10-03T09:10:00.001-07:00

Also makes your kids less likely to get fat.

Fantasy or Sci Fi?

2011-09-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Love this decision tree from NPR to choose my next guilty pleasure read.

A good question.

2011-09-26T13:53:00.001-07:00

From Don.

Gunnar

2011-09-09T15:35:00.001-07:00

If you don't wear glasses and work on a computer a lot, get some of these. I do and love them.

18th Anniversary Dinner at Home

2011-09-05T14:06:00.001-07:00

Tomato and Basil Towers (forgot to shoot it before it was half eaten)
Butternut Squash Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms
Beet Ravioli
Salmon in Cardamon Broth
Blueberry Pie with Lemon Yogurt Sorbet

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:The Spruces

My new favorite business

2011-09-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

I wish this was me, riding around delivering jam. I think we'd have to live in a tent in the park...

Time for some new shades

2011-08-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Sunglasses are now for sale on glasses.com.

I want chile rellenos for dinner

2011-08-16T08:09:00.001-07:00

This one.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

High five a tiger!

2011-08-15T09:49:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Katie

2011-07-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

Today's a huge day for my sweet Kate. She turns 40. In 40 years Katie has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. She graduated from college (first woman in her family, I believe?), has six kids, and has made friends in many places, including the three continents where she has lived and one more where she we to get a baby. I feel lucky to be with her and have been with her. Except today.

Today I don't get to be with her. I wish she had her backpack and hiking shoes on and was sleeping on the ground with me in Sweden. What a horrible birthday to miss.

I miss you Katie and hope you have a wonderful day. It will be wonderful if, even for a moment, you realize how amazing, and how loved, you are.

Some of my favorite pictures from trek

2011-07-26T05:52:00.001-07:00

Where to buy glasses

2011-07-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

Check out glasses.com if you're in the market for a pair of glasses. The prices are unbeatable for a great quality product. Each pair comes with polycarbonate lenses and anti-glare coatings. The service is also untouchable. If you don't like your glasses, send them back. Free shipping both ways. 1-800 CONTACTS is changing the way people buy eyewear. Again.

My favorite men's glasses are these Smith Broadcasts in matte blue.

My favorite women's glasses will be up later this week (also Smith). But these Oakley Permissives are a close second.

Homemade gel

2011-06-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

Since I'm such an ultra-runner, I thought this was way cool.

Khan on Ted

2011-06-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Summer math

2011-06-07T21:22:00.001-07:00

Khan deserves the Nobel Prize. Phenomenal resource for learning math. Mason's been on it for hours. I just wish he'd incorporate some techniques from dy/dan. Donate the Khan and save the trees from all those lame workbooks.

Keynes v Hakek, Round 2

2011-05-06T08:12:00.001-07:00

Groceries and schools

2011-05-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

Few economists are so insightful, yet unrelenting, as Don Boudreaux of George Mason University. His take on school choice, in comparison to grocery store choice here.

Second funniest man alive

2011-05-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Has to be Adam Carolla. After Brian Regan. I wish he'd leave out all the eff bombs so I could listen to his podcast.

Tax rate vs tax paid

2011-04-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Interesting chart from Heritage:

All Cup, No Tea?

2011-04-19T09:15:00.001-07:00

Is he a fraud? Sad if true.

IQ test

2011-04-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Congress and the President finally agreed on a $38B spending cut, right? So does that mean that we'll spend $38B less than last year?

Actually, last year we spent $3,456B and this year the CBO projects we'll spend $3,800B with the cuts.

Glad I'm not alone asking this question

2011-04-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Why has no one gone to jail? Who is the Kenneth Lay of this debacle? They should hold a ticker tape parade in Manhattan with nothing but frog-walking bankers.

Forget gold

2011-04-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

A flight to bitcoin is so much cooler. I so hope this catches on. I'm a huge fan of a non-national, open source currency.

The truth about American manufacturing

2011-04-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

It is not in decline, but growing (pdf). Jobs have not been lost overseas, but to technology. If they were lost overseas, American output would be in decline. It isn't.

Grow up

2011-04-11T18:05:00.001-07:00

I wish Kathleen would blog regularly.

Summary from October 2010

2011-04-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

5 - Pride and the Priesthood - Uchtdorf

We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves.

4 - Of Things That Matter Most - Uchtdorf

[I]t is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions.

3 - Reflections on a Consecrated Life - Christofferson

True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes.

2 - Receive the Holy Ghost - Bednar

These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.

1 - The Transforming Power of Faith and Character - Scott

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

Google does it again

2011-04-01T12:07:00.001-07:00

I always look forward to April 1.

More Rosling genius

2011-03-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

Currently my favorite Swede, though it is a close call between him and several friends from Taby forsamling.

Mankiw for President

2011-03-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

Another insightful article from my favorite moderate economist in yesterday's NYT.

Sunday best

2011-03-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

Putting two and two together:
White is a symbol of purity and holiness.
Pork is the other white meat.
Pulled pork is a great way to break a fast.

Hans Rosling does it again

2011-03-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure he's the best speaker at TED.

Memories

2011-03-24T09:17:00.001-07:00

here

In N Out Fettish

2011-03-02T08:05:00.001-08:00

Nice slideshow of the secret menu options.

Deep thoughts

2011-02-23T14:15:00.001-08:00

I'm on the road this week so I got to spend some time in my current book - The Story of Philosophy - sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off. I bit more weighty than my usual fare, but it has given me some good stuff to think about. Here are a few such things:

Money may be the husk of many things, but not the kernel. It brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends; servants, but not faithfulness; days of joy, but not peace or happiness.
~ Henrik Ibsen (actually from my Sunday School reading)

Blessedness is not the reward of virtue, but virtue itself.
~ Spinoza

Men who are good by reason desire nothing for themselves which they do not also desire for the rest of mankind. To be great is not to be placed above humanity, ruling others; but to stand above the partialities and futilities of uniformed desire, and to rule one's self.
~Spinoza

It is to him who masters our minds by the force of truth, and not to those who enslave them by violence, that we owe our reverence.
~ Voltaire

Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. Let us seek happiness in others; but for ourselves, perfection - whether it bring us happiness or pain.
~Kant

When mere creeds or ceremonies usurp priority over moral excellence as a test of religion, religion has disappeared.
~Kant

Look at me - I actually want to read Voltaire and Kant and wish I had the intellectual horsepower to make it through Spinoza. I'm sure it will quickly wear off and the next time you see me I'll be reading some low brow paperback.

Are you smarter than an eight grader?

2011-02-22T11:23:00.001-08:00

From today's Freakonomics blog, here's a final exam from 1895 for eighth graders. For the record, I'd be halfway through my 28th year of eighth grade if this was our test.

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters.
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1.25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu., deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per m?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per are, the distance around which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of theRebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates:
1607
1620
1800
1849
1865

Orthography (Time, one hour)
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e’. Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono,super.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd,cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give inclination of the earth.

Physiology (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Where are the saliva, gastric juice, and bile secreted? What is the use of each in digestion?
2. How does nutrition reach the circulation?
3. What is the function of the liver? Of the kidneys?
4. How would you stop the flow of blood from an artery in the case of a laceration?
5. Give some general directions that you think would be beneficial to preserve the human body in a state of health.

Tax the Rich

2011-02-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

Useful data from Russ Roberts on the realities/myths behind the narrative that our fiscal predicament is because of tax cuts for the rich. IMHO, the stronger narrative is, as Russ alludes to, that the relationship between Wall Street and the Federal government is where we should be looking. Crony capitalism and rent seeking behaviors are on fire on lower Manhattan. I'll always thumb a post that's dismissive of Paul Krugman anywho. His union narrative is either insanely smart and way over my head, or the Nobel has lost some luster.

Parents, lighten up

2011-02-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Apparently all that parenting doesn't matter much, so relax and enjoy the ride.

Apple - Worst Customer Service?

2011-02-21T12:34:00.000-08:00

In our business, we define satisfaction as reality minus expectations. We try hard to set reasonable expectations and then over-deliver against them.

Many companies set very low expectations and then deliver against them, for example cable companies, telephone companies, and pretty much every agency of the government, particularly federal. Their service sucks, but this is pretty much expected. Other companies set high expectations and then massively miss their mark.

I believe Apple delivers the worst satisfaction equation I can recall in recent memory. This is partially because they set a high expectation with great product design and a smooth sales process. However, I've now had at least three abysmal customer service experiences as an owner of Apple products. It is astounding to me how badly they take care of people that have already paid.

In business, I've heard this called "taking bad profits". Eventually this catches up with you. I, for one, will be looking for ways to reduce my addiction to all things that start with a lower case i.

Jack Daniels Explains The Deficit

2011-02-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

For those that prefer booze and videos to pie charts.

I'm no pie chart fan either.

Graphical representation of budget cuts

2011-02-14T09:04:00.001-08:00

Here.

Here's the first image, for the OCD among you.

Dangit, I hate it when I bring in images behind my right nav. Even worse when that hides the legend. Click if you want. Red is the deficit. Green is the proposed cuts. Yes, green.

American manufacturing

2011-02-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

Despite the rhetoric, it is not in decline.

WTF - Win the Future

2011-02-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

Mankiw recasts the future in tomorrow's NY Times. Why is Goolsbee not explaining this to his boss?

Speech to Senate this week on tax reform

2011-02-04T07:51:00.001-08:00

Good perspective and information here. (pdf)
HT: Mankiw.

I want to go cook this right now

2011-01-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

Bread Pudding!

When I Grow Up I Will Live in a Charter City

2011-01-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

Maybe in Honduras?

A few good reasons for abstinence

2011-01-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

May seem old-fashioned, but it has pretty nice outcomes...

link

How to balance a federal budget

2011-01-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

Holiday baking

2010-12-15T08:43:00.001-08:00

Quick post to remember two things I need to try this holiday season.

Pear and Hazelnut Tart

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

Welcome to the future

2010-12-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

Cool demos of SeaDragon and PhotoSynth. Crowdsourced maps and imagery. Fascinating.

All of your gifting dreams come true

2010-12-08T11:02:00.001-08:00

Don't walk. Run. Amazon has all three seasons of Arrested Development on sale for $27.99. Good today only. You will be loved.

Christmas card stats

2010-12-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

I'm in the middle of that feared annual event and paused to run some statistics on our "ship tos":

States: 27

Most per state:
1-Utah
2-Texas
3-Idaho

Foreign countries: 4

Zip codes: 166

Surnames:
1) Wright - not a family name
2) Graham
3) Johnson

Tax the Rich

2010-10-12T09:50:00.001-07:00

Democrats want to extend the Bush tax cuts to all but those that make more than $250K. Republicans don't.

Most data I've seen indicates that doing what the Democrats want will not significantly impact the economy adversely. I'm not at all opposed to the rich carrying more of the burden of taxes.

This article by Mankiw today lays out some sound reasoning to hold off on further tax increases. 90% marginal tax seems like a lot, especially when it means cutting take-home pay by 50% from what is currently 80%.

How "USA! USA! USA!" sounds with a British accent

2010-10-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Documenting my swing, not right, not left, but upper center...

Talenti Caramel Cookie Crunch

2010-10-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Long ago I said I was going to start reviewing ice cream - and then I didn't. I know that hundreds of people check in each day in eager anticipation of an ice cream review. Here you go.

Talenti is pricey, as far as grocery store ice cream and gelato goes. My first voyage into their dairy waters was with the Caramel Cookie Crunch. OK, so that's probably not the first gelato I should try. I should probably start with something more traditional. I think I'll try something traditional to give them another shot, because this stuff was no good.

If it was a private label brand, it would have been forgivable. But at $5 for a dinky little pint, I expected far more. I love gelato because of its creaminess. This stuff was not creamy - it had an icey mouthfeel. I wonder if that's just the way it goes with gelato you buy in your freezer section since it is likely difficult to keep it always below freezing.

The flavor was not very good either. With caramel and Oreo, I want one of two things - classic rich caramel (think Mrs Richardson) or something deep and unique (think Fleur de Sel or Michael Rechiutti). This was neither, but stuck somewhere in between. It tried to be rich and unique, but didn't get their.

For my $5, I'd skip the Talenti and go to another standby - Haagen Dazs or Ben & Jerry.

Happy October.

Six months have come and gone

2010-09-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

5 - Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul - Jeffrey Holland

Someone said once that true love must include the idea of permanence. True love endures.

4 - We Follow Jesus Christ - Quentin Cook

Ordinances and doctrines of great importance were initiated at the Last Supper. I will mention just three. First, the Savior introduced the ordinance of the sacrament. He took bread, broke it, prayed over it, and passed it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” In this manner He instituted the sacrament. Second, His overwhelming emphasis was on doctrines teaching love as a preeminent principle. He taught, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Third, through Christ’s intercession or direction, “the Holy Ghost was promised to the apostles” as another Comforter.

3 - You Are My Hands - Dieter Uchtdorf

It is unworthy of us as Christians to think that those who suffer deserve their suffering.

2 - Continue in Patience - Dieter Uchtdorf (a twofer)

There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed.

1 - Watching with All Perseverance - David Bednar

This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon.

Religious literacy

2010-09-28T07:53:00.000-07:00

Check yours here. No pressure, but I got 15 out of 15. W00t! Be patient - I had a heck of a time getting the pages to load. Maybe it's a popular page today.

More deep thoughts

2010-09-15T04:15:00.001-07:00

From Clay Christensen and Malcolm Gladwell.

Talk number two - Required for parents and teachers

2010-09-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

Cameron Herold: Let's raise kids to be entrepreneurs | Video on TED.com

Two required TED talks for parents and teachers

2010-09-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover | Video on TED.com

Public Transportation Myth Busted

2010-07-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

I found this article from Cato worth reading. Not a bad analog for those thinking that if the government takes over an industry (health care?) that costs will improve. Here's an excerpt for the time/link challenged:

This Cato briefing paper compared the costs of different forms of travel in 2006. Updating to 2008, auto owners spent about 22 cents a passenger mile driving, and subsidies to highways added another penny a passenger mile. Airfares averaged about 14 cents a passenger mile, and subsidies to airports added another penny. Amtrak fares averaged 30 cents a passenger mile, and subsidies brought the total to nearly 60 cents. Urban transit is about the most expensive form of travel in the United States, with fares averaging only about 21 cents a passenger mile but subsidies of 72 cents a passenger mile. This makes transit 4 times as expensive as driving.

In short, those who want to get people out of their cars and onto transit are trying to get people from an inexpensive, convenient, and increasingly energy-efficient form of travel to an expensive, inconvenient, and increasingly energy-wasteful form of travel.

Less than 3 days. Amp it up.

2010-06-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

Greed

2010-06-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Give me liberty...

2010-06-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

"All political theories assume, of course, that most individuals are very ignorant. Those who plead for liberty differ from the rest in that they include among the ignorant themselves..."

-Hayek

What is poor?

2010-06-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Obama wants to redefine poverty as a relative measure, i.e., you are poor if other people are rich, not if you can't afford to eat. Good article from Samuelson in the post here, with a good addition in a letter to the editor here.

I did not realize that such a large proportion of the increase in the poor is made up of poor hispanics.

Maybe I'm not so crazy after all

2010-06-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

Great article on psychiatry from the New Yorker. At least I think it is great. Then again, it may be the only article I've read on psychiatry so it is #1 of 1. I find it most interesting how psychiatric conditions are added or taken away by political lobbying. I wish someone would also lobby for ALS to no longer exist.

It's all clear now

2010-05-28T06:28:00.001-07:00

Very funny.

More or Less Bankruptcy

2010-05-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Under Obamacare, there are two key items to have in mind:
1) The individual mandate - all must have insurance.
2) Pre-existing conditions - insurance companies can't deny coverage based on it.

Because of #2, I have no incentive to comply with #1. I can wait until I'm sick and then get insurance. I'll be fined though, right? Well, unless the fine is greater than the insurance, I'll just pay the fine and call it insurance. Or not pay. What happens if I don't pay for the insurance or the fine? Will I be forced into bankruptcy with the US Government as my creditor? Or will I be thrown in jail?

One very good reason to reform healthcare is the number of bankruptcies attributed to healthcare catastrophes. Will an individual mandate actually create more bankruptcies?

The practicalities of health care make fixing it brutally difficult.

A Good Cause

2010-05-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Every year 29,000 kids age out of foster care in the US. Within two years, 60% will be homeless, dead or in jail. I found those numbers staggering. If you want to make a small difference in a few of their lives, here's a nice project locally.

Teach like a champion

2010-05-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's a totally lame title, but I just finished this book and thought it was simply extraordinary. We're all teachers, even if it isn't our profession. I thought it had great ideas for teaching at church or at home. Here's an article I recently read about the author and his program that will show you why I decided to buy a book on teaching. I liked the book so much I wrote a five page summary of it that I can refer to frequently. If you'd like a copy of the summary, email me and I'll send it since I don't think I can upload word docs onto blogger. The summary might not all make sense without reading the book, but much of it will.

The Worst Loan Shark

2010-05-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Hoarders

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

Ben's Take on Happiness

2010-05-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ben Bernanke gave the commencement address at the University of South Carolina this year and I think he did a great job of summarizing the "economics of happiness". I recommend you give it a read, even though it's a bit long, as most commencement addresses are. For the ADD among you, here are a list of the keys to happiness nd couple of snippets:

Ben's Keys:
1) Spend time with family and friends.
2) Spend time in activities that give you "flow".
3) Challenge yourself.

More generally, economic policymakers should pay attention to family and community cohesion. All else equal, good economic policies should encourage and support stable families and promote civic engagement. And to help people feel in control of their own destinies, policies should respect the autonomy of individuals, families, and communities to make their own decisions whenever possible, as research has confirmed the intuitive notion that individual freedoms contribute to life satisfaction.

Happiness is just one component of the broader, longer-term concept of life satisfaction, and only one indicator of how the fabric of our lives is being shaped by our choices and circumstances. I am reminded of a story about Abraham Lincoln. According to the story, Lincoln was riding with a friend in a carriage on a rainy evening. As they rode, Lincoln told the friend that he believed in what economists would call the utility-maximizing theory of behavior, that people always act so as to maximize their own happiness, and for no other reason. Just then, the carriage crossed a bridge, and Lincoln saw a pig stuck in the muddy riverbank. Telling the carriage driver to stop, Lincoln struggled through the rain and mud, picked up the pig, and carried it to safety. When the muddy Lincoln returned to the carriage, his friend naturally pointed out that he had just disproved his own hypothesis by putting himself to great trouble and discomfort to save a pig. "Not at all," said Lincoln. "What I did is perfectly consistent with my theory. If I hadn't saved that pig, I would have felt terrible."

I, Pigovian

2010-05-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Holman Jenkins nails the Pigovian argument today in the WSJ. If you want to use less oil, charge more, don't give tax credits for alternatives. Charging more raises revenue and cuts consumption. Giving tax credits to a highly regressive tax (the people getting the tax credits are not poor) and encourages consumption. Here's a great excerpt:

Even if you believe saving gasoline is a holy cause, subsidizing electric cars simply is not a substitute for politicians finding the courage to jack up gas prices. Think about it this way: You can double the fuel efficiency of any car by putting a second person in it. You can increase its fuel efficiency to infinity by refraining from frivolous trips.

These are the incentives that flow from a higher gas price. Exactly the opposite incentives flow from mandatory investment in higher-mileage vehicles. You paid a lot for a car that costs very little to operate—so why not operate it? Why bother to car pool? Why not drive across town for a jar of mayonnaise?

Though as eager as any to clamber aboard the electric-vehicle bandwagon, German parts maker Robert Bosch notes with rare honesty that electric cars may end up responsible for more CO2 than their conventional counterparts in regions (like much of the U.S.) where electricity is produced from coal.

The downside of entitlements

2010-05-11T07:55:00.000-07:00

Doom and gloom article from Samuelson today on the threat of the welfare state. Here's an excerpt:

The welfare state's death spiral is this: Almost anything governments might do with their budgets threatens to make matters worse by slowing the economy or triggering a recession. By allowing deficits to balloon, they risk a financial crisis as investors one day -- no one knows when -- doubt governments' ability to service their debts and, as with Greece, refuse to lend except at exorbitant rates. Cutting welfare benefits or raising taxes all would, at least temporarily, weaken the economy. Perversely, that would make paying the remaining benefits harder.

The Constitution - Not for Children

2010-05-07T10:58:00.001-07:00

Check out the copyright page on this edition of the Constitution. Good warning for the progressive era.

HT: Cato

Once a teenage boy, always a teenage boy

2010-05-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

*snicker*

Death tax

2010-05-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

Despite my recent trend toward libertarian posts, I'm not at all averse to taxation. I'm in favor of taxes in the following order:
1) Pigovian taxes (externalities, e.g., gasoline, cigarette taxes)
2) Estate taxes (death tax)
3) Consumption taxes (sales tax)
4) Production taxes (e.g., income)

This image gives me pause on my enthusiasm for each generation earning his/her own through high estate taxes:

Definition of a capitalist

2010-05-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

I don't normally read the National Review, but thought this was a useful description of capitalism as a place that lies between socialism and anarchy, not to be confused with anarchy itself. (HT: Cafe Hayek)

If by “capitalist” you mean someone who cares more about his own profit than yours; if you mean someone who cares more about providing for his family than providing for yours; if you mean someone who trusts that he is a better caretaker of his own interests and desires than a bureaucrat he’s never met, often in a city he’s never been to: then we are all capitalists. Because, by that standard, capitalism isn’t some far-off theory about the allocation of capital; it is a commonsense description of what motivates pretty much all human beings everywhere.

And that was one of the reasons why the hard socialism of the Soviet Union failed, and it is why the soft socialism of Western Europe is so anemic. At the end of the day, it is entirely natural for humans to work the system–any system–for their own betterment, whatever kind of system that may be. That’s why the black-market economy of the Soviet Union might have in fact been bigger than the official socialist economy. That is why devoted socialists worked the bureaucracy to get the best homes, get their kids into the best schools, and provide their families with the best food, clothes, and amenities they could. Just like people in capitalist countries.

It’s why labor unions demanded exemptions and “carve-outs” from Obamacare for their own health-care plans. And why very rich liberals still try their best to minimize their taxes.

The problem with socialism is socialism, because there are no socialists. Socialism is a system based upon an assumption about human nature that simply isn’t true. I can design a perfect canine community in which dogs never chase squirrels or groom their nether regions in an indelicate manner. But the moment I take that idea from the drawing board to the real world, I will discover that I cannot get dogs to behave against their nature–at least not without inflicting a terrible amount of punishment. Likewise, it’s easy to design a society that rewards each according to his need instead of his ability. The hard part is getting the crooked timber of humanity to yield to your vision.

And it’s also why the problem with capitalism is capitalists. Some people will always abuse the system and take things too far. Some will do it out of the hubris of intellect. Some will do it out of the venality of greed.

I bring all of this up because many in Washington seem convinced that the solution to the problem with capitalists is always less capitalism. To be sure, a free-market society is in some sense a government program. The government must prosecute criminality, enforce contracts, and demand that the rules be observed. Few lovers of free markets are so laissez-faire as to want to strip the government of its role as referee.

But few should want the ref to suit up and play the game.

What do you think of these ads?

2010-05-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Bring on the Squash

2010-05-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

I don't like zucchini. I never have. However, it is the one thing that I know I could plant anywhere, never water, without sunlight and it would still grow to the moon. We're on the verge of planting our garden and I'm sure we're a couple of months from zucchini mounting on the counter. When they do, this is the first recipe I'm going to try. Sounds awesome. HT: Wednesday Chef.

Zucchini Pancakes
Makes 12 pancakes

For the pancakes
3 medium zucchini, shredded
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 scallions, thinly sliced
1-2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh mint
1 teaspoon baking powder (I forgot to add this! And they were fine)
4 to 6 tablespoons vegetable oil, more as needed

For the yogurt sauce
2/3 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place zucchini in a colander over a bowl, and mix with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Allow to drain for five minutes. Transfer to a cloth kitchen towel, and squeeze hard to extract as much moisture as possible. Squeeze a second time; volume will shrink to about half the original.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine zucchini and eggs. Using a fork, mix well. Add flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, olive oil, feta, scallions, mint and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well, add baking powder, if using, and mix again.

3. Place a cast iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Place heaping tablespoons of zucchini batter in pan several inches apart, allowing room to spread. Flatten them with a spatula if necessary; pancakes should be about 3/8 inch thick and about 3 inches in diameter. Fry until golden on one side, then turn and fry again until golden on other side. Repeat once or twice, frying about 5 to 6 minutes total, so pancakes get quite crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels, and keep warm in oven. Continue frying remaining batter, adding more oil to pan as needed. Serve hot.

4. For yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, combine yogurt, garlic and salt. Mix well, and serve on the side or on pancakes.

Higher Taxes = Less Work

2010-05-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

I hadn't read this (pdf) Nobel-written paper before. Interesting to see how closely he can model the degree to which people work less when you tax them more. Little surprise that I favor less government and stronger individual incentives. We like papers that support our view of the world, don't we?

An inheritance

2010-04-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

I came across this column today (sorry it's a year old) and was impressed that this is precisely the sort of inheritance I feel I've been given and could be so lucky as to one day pass along.

Bankrupting America

2010-04-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

This makes the point fairly clearly. Bonus points for the first to identify what has driven down income/household in the period mentioned. Clue - focus on the denominator, not the numerator.

Amnesia

2010-04-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

Good to remember who was fighting for/against reform at Freddie/Fannie before the crisis. I'm surprised by the public's misperception of who drove the risky behavior. I'm not generally an apologist for Republicans, particularly the Bush administration, but Obama's rhetoric about the financial crisis and who was behind it has long ago passed disingenuous and is quickly approaching dishonest.

Human rights - where do they stop?

2010-04-20T09:46:00.001-07:00

Add tourism to the list.

Healthcare just like the mail

2010-04-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

Anyone thinking that a more government-run healthcare system would reduce the cost of healthcare might want to peruse this report on the current financial predicament of the postal service. Unintentional comedy galore if you can get past the idea that you're reading from an 80-page government report.

Quick, take a picture

2010-04-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Cubs are at .500, but they're tied 4-4 in the 5th, so this may be your last chance to see them on bubble until 2011.

I don't know that I can be a Cubs fan. Cubs fans are not sore losers.

Land of the free or land of the entitled?

2010-04-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Insightful post by the rational optimist well worth a read. Here's a nice excerpt (How could it not be nice if it uses the word "recrudescence"? Look it up. I had to.):

America’s longtime sources of strength have been its spirit of individual enterprise and innovation, people motivated to work hard and try new things, confident in their ability to succeed and confound naysayers. This is propelled by America’s freedom and openness, as a meritocratic egalitarian society – egalitarian not in results but, rather, with every person standing on his or her own merits (not pedigree or privilege). Of course it’s imperfect, but these fundamental characteristics are in America’s DNA.

Now, however, a different strand has crept into our national DNA – the ethos of entitlement. It’s a recrudescence of the old world paradigm of entrenched privilege that America was founded to get away from. But in today’s USA, entrenched privilege is everywhere, exerted not by some elite oligarchy but by practically every segment of society.