Victor V. Claar's Blog, page 9

Louie CK: Everything's Amazing but Nobody's Happy

Thanks to Mike and Brad:

Should We Tax Soft Drinks?

On a remarkable Diane Rehm Show from this morning, three panelists discuss the consequences--intended and otherwise--of a proposed tax on soft drinks. Absolutely worth a listen.

Ms. Rehm' guests:

Kelly Brownell, director, Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

J. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst, Center for Consumer Freedom.

David Kessler, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and author of The End of Overeating.

What are the Odds of Success of a New Site about Odds?

From American Public Media's Marketplace:

'Book of Odds' gives eye-opening stats

Want to know what the odds are you'll survive two atomic bombs? How about more specific odds about yourself? The new Web site "Book of Odds" allows you to get up and personal about your own statistics. Bob Moon talks to founder Amram Shapiro.

What Do Wise Dairy Farmers Do When Milk Prices Fall? They Find Cheaper Methods

American Public Media's Marketplace explains how, following the lead of a New Zealand dairy farmer who moved to Missouri because he wanted to let his dairy cattle graze on inexpensive farmland, the Missouri dairy community is changing the way they feed and raise their cows.

"TANSTAAFL" Makes It Into a Letter to the Editor

A nice note from my mother arrived in the mail today. I'm lucky: I have a mom that still goes to the trouble to write notes to me by hand, rather than email. I treasure each one.

In most notes she sends along clippings of articles she has run across that she thinks will interest me. She is a voracious reader--of everything. In today's envelope, along with a very nice note and another clipping, I found a letter to the editor she'd snipped from the Star Press of Muncie, Indiana.

Moms know th...

"TANSTAAFL" Makes It Into A Letter to the Editor

A nice note from my mother arrived in the mail today. I'm lucky: I have a mom that still goes to the trouble to write notes to me by hand, rather than email. I treasure each one.

In most notes she sends along clippings of articles she has run across that she thinks will interest me. She is a voracious reader--of everything. In today's envelope, along with a very nice note and another clipping, I found a letter to the editor she'd snipped from the Star Press of Muncie, Indiana.

Moms know th...

Econ Nobel 2009

The Prize in Economic Science in memory of A. Nobel has its first female winner this morning. John Lunn has a nice post.

By the way, neither of the co-winners--Ms. Ostrom nor Mr. Williamson--was on anyone's short list.

Video: The Fed Today

Though it predates the financial crises of 2008-09, this video from the Fed, hosted by Charles Osgood, is still one of the best video summaries available of the tools and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve System.

I still don't know why it has that animated eagle, though. Keep an eye out for it:

Does the Economics Nobel Need a 'Bailout'?

In a thoughtful piece in the Guardian, Jayati Ghosh ponders the merits of the economics Nobel, as well as the methods used in awarding the prize:

The economics award is usually the last of the Nobel prizes to be announced. Correctly so, for it was also the last to be created – and strictly speaking is not even a real Nobel prize. The five original awards, first given out in 1901 for literature, peace, medicine/physiology, physics and chemistry, were intended by Alfred Nobel to recognise...

Efficient Markets Hypothesis Guru Favorite for Nobel

Despite all kinds of criticism of efficient market theory--in light of recent bubble-pops--Fama is viewed to be the favorite to be awarded the Nobel in economics Monday.