Sunday, November 09, 2003
Monday, November 03, 2003
Buy American
Interesting post on Marginal Revolution:
Nice headline.
Interesting post on Marginal Revolution:
US Sperm Exports Explode; Canadians Upset
The US is a world leader in sperm exports primarily because sperm banks in the U.S. are run on a for-profit basis. As a result, US sperm is reckoned to be of high quality. . . .
Nice headline.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Monday, August 18, 2003
The state of the game console business
Slashdot links to this hilarious comparison of game consoles.
Slashdot links to this hilarious comparison of game consoles.
Sunday, August 17, 2003
The night that the lights went out in Ohio
Cato and RPPI are all over the electricity fiasco. If I understand them correctly, RPPI seems concerned that regulation has prevented adequate investment in transmission lines, while Cato's scholars are more bothered by legal barriers to "vertical integration" (joint ownership of power generation and transmission facilities) in the electricity industry.
Cato and RPPI are all over the electricity fiasco. If I understand them correctly, RPPI seems concerned that regulation has prevented adequate investment in transmission lines, while Cato's scholars are more bothered by legal barriers to "vertical integration" (joint ownership of power generation and transmission facilities) in the electricity industry.
Boaz on libertarianism
David Boaz recently gave a nice speech introducing people to libertarianism. You can listen to a recording here. Tell your non-libertarian friends.
David Boaz recently gave a nice speech introducing people to libertarianism. You can listen to a recording here. Tell your non-libertarian friends.
Looks like I may be worm food.
Shoutin' Across the Pacific links to this Sports Illustrated article about Alcor and Ted Williams. It's pretty apalling. Apparently Alcor cut off Williams' head, despite the fact he was supposed to get a full body suspension. Then several cracks developed in the head "due to fluctuating storage temperatures." And the evidence that Ted Williams wanted to be frozen at all seems a bit shaky. Apparently Alcor's chief operating officer blew the whistle and then resigned.
UPDATE: Alcor has responded to the Sports Illustrated article in this press release. As Alcor tells it, COO Larry Johnson is a disgruntled ex-employee looking to smear his former employer. "No Alcor Cryopatient has been treated negligently in the style that Johnson suggested to Sports Illustrated." The press release also announces Alcor's intention to have Johnson prosecuted for violating a privacy agreement. Unfortunately (conveniently?), Alcor's privacy policy prevents them from responding in detail to Johnson's allegations. They do say that fractures are an expected side effect of vitrification, and the benefit of vitrification is reduced overall cell damage.
Shoutin' Across the Pacific links to this Sports Illustrated article about Alcor and Ted Williams. It's pretty apalling. Apparently Alcor cut off Williams' head, despite the fact he was supposed to get a full body suspension. Then several cracks developed in the head "due to fluctuating storage temperatures." And the evidence that Ted Williams wanted to be frozen at all seems a bit shaky. Apparently Alcor's chief operating officer blew the whistle and then resigned.
UPDATE: Alcor has responded to the Sports Illustrated article in this press release. As Alcor tells it, COO Larry Johnson is a disgruntled ex-employee looking to smear his former employer. "No Alcor Cryopatient has been treated negligently in the style that Johnson suggested to Sports Illustrated." The press release also announces Alcor's intention to have Johnson prosecuted for violating a privacy agreement. Unfortunately (conveniently?), Alcor's privacy policy prevents them from responding in detail to Johnson's allegations. They do say that fractures are an expected side effect of vitrification, and the benefit of vitrification is reduced overall cell damage.
Silence = death
Alan Kors confronts the intelligentsia for their silence on Communist atrocities in this passionate, moving speech. (Link provided by Hit and Run.)
Alan Kors confronts the intelligentsia for their silence on Communist atrocities in this passionate, moving speech. (Link provided by Hit and Run.)
"It's like having our own private police department."
SFGate.com has an article about how private security agencies are increasingly assuming responsibilities traditionally handled by public police departments. The author of the article is obviously alarmed, and wants to see more government regulation, but as far as I can tell there's no evidence private security officers abuse their power more than police officers. Indeed, it would seem to me that private security companies face better incentives. Like police departments, they're legally liable for officer misbehavior. The article frets that large private companies are difficult to beat in court, but is it easier to win a case against the police? Which institution has a greater incentive to avoid lawsuits: private companies risking their own money, or police departments risking taxpayer dollars? Moreover, private security companies are responsible to their customers. (The article implies that private security officers may have provoked an unnecessary shootout last December in front of an Oakland liquor store. As a result of the incident, the agency was fired. Try doing that with the police.) The author pushes government oversight, but seems blissfully unaware of the public choice problems attending that approach. Has "public oversight" worked very well for the SFPD (link 1, link2)?
Here are some figures from the article that might interest Jake:
SFGate.com has an article about how private security agencies are increasingly assuming responsibilities traditionally handled by public police departments. The author of the article is obviously alarmed, and wants to see more government regulation, but as far as I can tell there's no evidence private security officers abuse their power more than police officers. Indeed, it would seem to me that private security companies face better incentives. Like police departments, they're legally liable for officer misbehavior. The article frets that large private companies are difficult to beat in court, but is it easier to win a case against the police? Which institution has a greater incentive to avoid lawsuits: private companies risking their own money, or police departments risking taxpayer dollars? Moreover, private security companies are responsible to their customers. (The article implies that private security officers may have provoked an unnecessary shootout last December in front of an Oakland liquor store. As a result of the incident, the agency was fired. Try doing that with the police.) The author pushes government oversight, but seems blissfully unaware of the public choice problems attending that approach. Has "public oversight" worked very well for the SFPD (link 1, link2)?
Here are some figures from the article that might interest Jake:
Last year, California licensed 15,450 new security officers, for a total of 185,000. Of that number, an estimated 14,000 are licensed to carry guns. During the same period, 60 new security companies opened for business in the state. In fact, the Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for private security services. Nationwide, the $33 billion industry is growing at more than 7 percent a year, according to Freedonia Group, a business research company. That's plenty robust in a wheezing economy. It also outpaces the growth of police by more than three times.
Sunday, August 10, 2003
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Friday, August 08, 2003
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Our founding fathers lead a freaking revolt against the king when he tried to tax their favorite breakfast beverage. Sadly, we are a bunch of pussies today...
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Governor Flynt?
If you haven't heard already, Larry Flynt is running for governor of California in this October's recall election. This article says he's a "self-described libertarian," and this one says he would legalize drugs and prostitution, "expand the right of casinos to operate slot machines," and declare amnesty for illegal immigrants. On the other hand, it also says he would close the borders. :-(
If you haven't heard already, Larry Flynt is running for governor of California in this October's recall election. This article says he's a "self-described libertarian," and this one says he would legalize drugs and prostitution, "expand the right of casinos to operate slot machines," and declare amnesty for illegal immigrants. On the other hand, it also says he would close the borders. :-(
Sunday, August 03, 2003
Hunting for Bambi is a hoax
The "hunts" were staged for gullible reporters to promote sales of the video.
The "hunts" were staged for gullible reporters to promote sales of the video.
Thursday, July 31, 2003
A no frills flight over the English Channel
Today, Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from an airplane 30,000 feet over England--and landed in France 14 minutes later. According to the BBC, "He wore only an aerodynamic jumpsuit with a 6-foot (1.8-metre) carbon fin strapped to his back, an oxygen tank from which to breathe, and a parachute to land." His speed peaked at 220 miles per hour, and the initial temperature at the jump point was 40 degrees below 0 (Celsius). Watch the video.
Today, Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from an airplane 30,000 feet over England--and landed in France 14 minutes later. According to the BBC, "He wore only an aerodynamic jumpsuit with a 6-foot (1.8-metre) carbon fin strapped to his back, an oxygen tank from which to breathe, and a parachute to land." His speed peaked at 220 miles per hour, and the initial temperature at the jump point was 40 degrees below 0 (Celsius). Watch the video.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Remember ideas futures?
Robert Hanson, the guy who came up with the notion of "ideas futures," is back; this time he's interested in setting up a futures market in terror and assasination. Too bad the research program got killed by demagogic congressmen.
Robert Hanson, the guy who came up with the notion of "ideas futures," is back; this time he's interested in setting up a futures market in terror and assasination. Too bad the research program got killed by demagogic congressmen.
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