For the record:

By on February 22, 2012 in Economics, Human Behavior

I just feel the need to say this. Munch’s painting “The Scream” is about to go on auction at Sotheby’s (actually, it is one of four versions of the painting) at an estimated value of $80 million.  My take: it is probably the worst painting which ever avoided destruction by the artist before the paint [...]

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NJ Governor Chris Christie Tells Warren Buffett To ‘Just Shut Up’ About Taxes.

By on February 22, 2012 in Economics, Politics

NJ Governor Chris Christie apparently doesn’t like Warren Buffett talking about taxes, and has told him to ‘just shut up, already’.   I had a few choice words for Chris Christie, but it may be that Eric decided they needed to be censored, since I tried to post this before and it disappeared within a [...]

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Inflation: Life On The Phillips Curve

By on February 22, 2012 in Economics

Especially for Diogene, I recommend the article with that title, available on the Economist sidebar here. It relates to our ongoing (?) argument about inflation vs deflation and monetary policy.

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“Diversity” Code

By on February 21, 2012 in General Discussion

I work at a company that “values diversity.”  To put it very bluntly, this is a coded way to say that my company wants to avoid lawsuits over racial or gender discrimination, and so they have various conspicuous programs designed to recruit, promote, and retain women and certain minority ethnicities on a preferential basis.   [...]

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The Most Dangerous Theology On Earth

By on February 21, 2012 in Economics, General Discussion, Politics, Science

Rick Santorum has been getting a lot of mileage criticizing Barack Obama’s ‘theology’ of late, but it is really Mr. Santorum who has the most dangerous theology on Earth. Rick Santorum is a dominionist, which means he believes the Earth to be nothing more than a rock that was given to us by some old [...]

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Roubini On The Uptick’s Downside

By on February 17, 2012 in Economics, International affairs, Politics

Over on the Project Syndicate side-bar, Nouriel Roubini has a very nice and well-reasoned (as usual) analysis of the potential roadblocks and booby-traps for the world economy in 2012. The continuing Euro-crisis, rising tensions in the Middle East, and China’s dramatically slowing economy, are the main topics. Recommended reading.  www.project-syndicate.org… Obama would seem to be [...]

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Krugman in action

By on February 17, 2012 in General Discussion

Arkady is on record saying that Paul Krugman is his favorite pundit (or at least social commentator). Leroy also likes Krugman and tows the Krugman line on stimulus and monetary easing (that if anything Obama didn’t spend enough on his stimulus and Bernanke’s ZIRP has been good medicine for what ails the economy). I am [...]

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I almost feel bad for David Brooks

By on February 16, 2012 in General Discussion, Human Behavior

I read editorials from the New York Times on a regular basis.  Usually I try to read at least one conservative’s editorial, to keep my mind open and to expose myself to what the “other side” is thinking.  More often than not, I go for David Brooks, because he has an easy, lucid style and [...]

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Nobody is rich in America

By on February 16, 2012 in General Discussion, Politics

Among Republican politicians, a fake “every guy” facade is needed in order to be a stand-in for the insecure conservative base, which wants to dislike the “elitists” without realize that’s exactly who they’re voting for.  So, when campaigning, the Republican politicians keep a spare down-market car and wear JC Penny clothes, and avoid getting spotted [...]

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Kansas Governor Sam Brownback: The Anti-Robin Hood

By on February 16, 2012 in Economics, Politics

Interesting article on page A4 of ‘The Wall Street Journal’ today, titled “Budget Overhaul Splits Kansas GOP”.   Kansas Governor Sam Brownback wants to raise taxes on the poor in Kansas, while slashing them for the rich. This is apparently too extreme even for some ‘moderate’ members of the Kansas GOP, who are fighting him, [...]

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