Rob Reid’s Copyright Math at TED2012: the claimed effect of entertainment piracy to US economy is larger than value of most of our agricultural output. » about 100 words
The claim that changing the clocks saves energy is unsupportable by facts. Some say it’s more likely to spur consumption and benefit commercial interests, but I’m curious why the teabaggersparty people haven’t risen up against this alarming government intrusion into our private lives.
Andrew Tobias asks if we can finally put the tax argument to bed: Is the reason you’re not investing in stocks these days (a) the prospect of having to pay 15% capital gains tax? Or (b) the fear of further losses? (Well, or – c – that you don’t have any money?) Is the reason […] » about 300 words
NPR covered it like an eclipse or astronomic curiosity, and did little to question the claimed energy saving benefits. But, as Michael Downing asks in Spring Forward, how can something understood by so few be done by so many? And why go through this twice annual madness? Supposedly, we subject ourselves to the rule of […] » about 300 words
Conservatives hate Freakonomics, that book by economist Steven D. Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner that takes on more than a few sticky issues that most people don’t normally consider to be within the purview of economics. (See also the Freakonomics blog). Publisher’s Weekly notes: There isn’t really a grand theory of everything here, except […] » about 400 words
So long as I’m talking about change I want to bring attention to some commentaries by Chris Farrell in Marketplace Money. On September 16th he noted that hurricane Katrina (Rita hadn’t hit yet) “ripped the veil off poverty in America” and wondered aloud weather the voting public would continue to support the Republican obsession with […] » about 400 words