Category Archives: sciences

convert politics to economics

Robin Hanson writes, on the Armchair Economists list: Wouldn’t a privately organized fire department look a lot like a government one, with hoses and fire trucks and all that? Wouldn’t a private school look a lot like a public school, … Continue reading

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the government you pay for

Hey Hillary, it could be worse: Scotland now spends more of its national income on health than any other country in the developed world. While this has led to higher hospital staffing levels, Scotland’s life expectancy remains the lowest in … Continue reading

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QotD

G K Chesterton: The Uses of Diversity, 1921 Too much capitalism does not mean too many capitalists, but too few capitalists.

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humanity sneezes with me

So it looks like the Chinese pneumonia may be the newest mutant of the common cold. Maybe a vaccine for the latter will emerge from efforts against the former.

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that symmetry guy

The eminent geometer HSM (Donald) Coxeter of Toronto died a few days ago, aged 96 years. His book Regular Polytopes (1963) sits on my reference shelf. For you non-mathematical types, it was Coxeter who sent MC Escher an article on … Continue reading

Posted in arts, mathematics | Leave a comment

my new drug habit

I’m now taking Wellbutrin @ four dollars a day. Full dose since Friday. Sleep slightly disturbed. My housemate says I’m less irritable. I’ve had just one depressive episode since I started on half-dose (the previous Friday); normal average would be … Continue reading

Posted in me!me!me!, medicine, psychology | 1 Comment

adieu

Joe Fuhrig – golfer, economist, teacher, swell guy – died suddenly on March 3. His ashes were scattered furtively on a golf course. At the memorial service today, his family may have been taken aback at the size of the … Continue reading

Posted in California, economics | Leave a comment