Yesterday’s Fin ran a piece from Stephen Kirchner and Robert Carling of the Centre for Independent Studies, under the headline “Give austerity a chance” which was a pretty accurate summary of the contents. It’s paywalled, but for those with access the link is here. The piece relies almost exclusively on the work of Alberto Alesina […]

The resource page for last week's Caplan-Smith debate is now up, complete with full video.  Here's Karl's post-debate statement.  It's basically a more detailed version of his original statement.  But he does introduce two new points I want to answer:1. Genetic determinism.  Here's Karl:As it happened I was also debating Bryan Caplan […]

Some adult hawks can look 'juvenile-like'. Check out this Cooper's Hawk I photographed in 1999 at the Goshute Mountains in Nevada ('click' to enlarge). The barring on the underside is much less dense than a typical adult Cooper's Hawk. I have seen this on a few birds over the years, and several that I was able to see well had be […]

Let’s turn the mike over to Alex, our Alex, the Alex, etc., the one who writes for MarginalRevolution: The rags to riches to rags story of a poor, unemployed fellow who wins the lottery, blows the cash, and ends up just as poor and unemployed as he began is a common trope.  (Here is a […]

That is the new book by Ben Casnocha and Reid Hoffman and the subtitle is Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career.  if you are starting a career, it is an excellent book for thinking through the practical issues you will face in branding yourself in what is becoming a more […]

As the author of Theories of International Politics and Zombies, I want to make it absolutely clear that I have absolutely nothing to do with this:  But, based on Al Qaeda's current capabilities, I'm beginning to think that this is their best chance for revival. […]

Ken writes: I was scouring your blog for Fyodor Dostoevsky and was surprised to see no mentions. I was just wondering your thoughts on him. Currently reading the Brothers Karamazov and it’s fantastic. Brothers Karamazov spent seven or so years as my favorite book, starting in high school.  I’m not suggesting it is juvenile, only that […]

Studies of the neurochemical effects of drugs support the mind-brain identity theory over its chief rival, dualism, which claims that minds are distinct from bodies.read more […]

Hey, remember how the new Al Qaeda was going to be more networked and more capable of inspiring home-grown terrorism?  Remember how today's threat enviroment was supposed to be worse than the Cold War?  Bear these points in mind when considering two news items that crossed my screen today.  In the first, courtesy of Micah Zenko, a Pentagon official sugg […]

1. Is there a procedural way to get to looser zoning regulations? 2. Does the Henrietta Lacks book make a lot of sense? 3. Why are poor parents worse (are they?) 4. How illegal are driverless cars?, make sure you carry a copy of this article to show the cop who pulls you over. 5. […]