Zigmania

Rational Irrationality

2009-10-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Great article in the New Yorker about the phenomenon of financial bubbles:

Rational Irrationality

Is Happiness Catching?

2009-09-16T08:59:00.001-07:00

A fascinating article about the impact that our real life social networks (not our online ones, although their impact would be interesting to understand as well!) have on our health, happiness, habits, and life in general.

"The subconscious nature of emotional mirroring might explain one of the more curious findings in their research: If you want to be happy, what’s most important is to have lots of friends. Historically, we have often thought that having a small cluster of tight, long-term friends is crucial to being happy. But Christakis and Fowler found that the happiest people in Framingham were those who had the most connections, even if the relationships weren’t necessarily deep ones."

Very cool stuff. Enjoy! Beckmania

Is Happiness Catching?

Capitalism After The Crisis

2009-09-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

An excerpt:

"We thus stand at a crossroads for American capitalism. One path would channel popular rage into political support for some genuinely pro-market reforms, even if they do not serve the interests of large financial firms. By appealing to the best of the populist tradition, we can introduce limits to the power of the financial industry — or any business, for that matter — and restore those fundamental principles that give an ethical dimension to capitalism: freedom, meritocracy, a direct link between reward and effort, and a sense of responsibility that ensures that those who reap the gains also bear the losses."

A nice historical look at the history of capitalism in America.

Capitalism After The Crisis

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

2009-09-07T22:05:00.001-07:00

A long and interesting piece by Paul Krugman about the oscillations between classicism and neoclassicism on the one hand, and Keynsianism on the other. Interesting stuff as we try to figure out the best way to handle fluctuations in a capitalist economy.....Enjoy!

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

GDP: RIP

2009-08-11T14:29:00.000-07:00

A great article in the NYT about why GDP is terrible as a measure of the well being of a society. Perhaps we should look to Bhutan -they adopted Gross National Happiness a while ago! Enjoy, Beckmania.

GDP: RIP

The Jalopy Economy

2009-07-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

An interesting investor letter from Jeffrey Gundlach at TCW Group that discusses the steady rise in credit in the US economy, starting in the Reagan era. It's more data that fortifies the theme that many troubles, both at micro and micro levels, result from the desire to 'have it all without paying for it'. The reality check is painful, isn't it? Enjoy! Beckmania:

Letter From Jeffrey Gundlach

The Capitalist Manifesto: Greed is Good

2009-06-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Another great article from Fareed Zakaria (I feel like I post all of his articles).....a big picture look at the world today......Enjoy! Beckmania

The Capitalist Manifesto: Greed is Good

Wall Street's Toxic Message

2009-06-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

Awesome big picture article by Joseph Stiglitz about the impact that the current economic crisis is having on the reputation of American style capitalism, and the subsequent impact THAT is having throughout the world on the types of governing systems that are seen as preferable. Enjoy! Beckmania.

Wall Street's Toxic Message

The Cost Conundrum

2009-06-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

Amazing article on the issue of health care costs in the US (thanks Misha Palecek for sending it to me). Two things jump out at me - one is that you simply cannot have health care decision makers associate revenue and profit with the choices they make. We all know what road human nature will take us down. Generally speaking, rules are created and needed precisely to prevent what would be the human nature path in individual choices. The second thing is what irks me the MOST about government policy making - we absolutely KNOW what the answer is in some cases, or what BETTER ideas are, and yet we can't get them implemented. Health care screams of this. The Mayo clinic works fabulously, yet it's losing the fight. There needs to be an overall owner of this mess, who isn't thinking from the perspective of insurers or doctors.....Really interesting. Enjoy! Beckmania

The Cost Conundrum

Argentina: The Superpower That Never Was

2009-05-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

Great article comparing the US and Argentina over the last 150 years, and how important decisions and cultural features made a monumental difference in the success of each. Essentially Argentina and the US were 'tied' at the beginning of the 20th century, but the rest is history...Enjoy! Zigmania

Argentina: The Superpower That Never Was

The Diamond Invention

2009-05-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

A fascinating article about the history of the diamond industry, and how its current role in society was the result of careful manipulation by DeBeers. Scary. All because they were able to push the right emotional buttons....Enjoy! Beckmania.

Have You Ever Tried To Sell a Diamond?

Message In What We Buy, But Nobody's Listening

2009-05-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

The more I read about shopping and consumer habits, the more I find it intriguing. The difference between what we think is going on, and what really is going on, is fascinating. Even worse, behavior doesn't seem to change even when we DO know what is going on.....Enjoy! Beckmania

Message In What We Buy, But Nobody's Listening

How David Beats Goliath

2009-05-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

A fun article by the always entertaining Malcolm Gladwell about how insurgents can beat incumbents if they implement novel strategies - a lesson that is relevant in sports, wars, and business. The article is mostly centered around a girls basketball team from Redwood City and Lawrence of Arabia. Enjoy! Beckmania

How David Beats Goliath

Mega Regions and High Speed Rail

2009-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

The always interesting Richard Florida wrote an article for the Atlantic Monthly that discusses the benefits of high speed rail, and how it could unleash tremendous economic activity, not to mention reduce commute times, which is good bc: "Research by behavioral economists like Nobel prize-winner Daniel Kahneman finds that long car commutes are among the things that most adversely affect our happiness." Enjoy! Beckmania

Mega Regions and High Speed Rail

The Dark Side Of Dubai

2009-04-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well this is simply depressing - the article outlines the dark underbelly of the oasis in the desert - Dubai. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that a monument to excess has its issues....slavery, environmental disasters, corruption. Sigh. If something seems too good to be true.....

The Dark Side of Dubai

Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants

2009-04-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

This is mostly relevant for the Bay Area folks: A great list of Bay Area restaurants:

Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants

Learning How To Think

2009-03-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

This article provides a ton of things to think about: the emperor has no clothes; ignore tv pundits and most news; trust your instincts.....I was always skeptical when experts were trotted out on tv bc you never know who is paying them to say what they are saying - you can confure up an expert on any topic - or whether or not they were actually experts (often not). Now I can add to my skepticism bc even if they really are experts, it doesn't matter, because they are dreadful prognosticators anyways! Sigh. Enjoy. Beckmania.

Learning How To Think

The Civil Heretic

2009-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

This article reviews the life of Freeman Dyson, one of the great thinkers and scientists of his generation. The article discusses his intellectual philosophy, as well as his recent high profile views on climate change, and how it's not clear that it's a bad thing. I love the paragraph that talks about Dyson and Richard Feynman (another luminary), taking a roadtrip in a beat up old car picking up hitch hikers. I'd LOVE to get picked up by that pair! Enjoy. Beckmania....

The Civil Heretic

The Daily Me

2009-03-19T08:58:00.001-07:00

Humans have a confirmation bias - we like to hear things that confirm our opinions and beliefs. With the decline of newspapers and TV news, we turn to the web where we can configure our own consumption sources easily. Beware of the vacuum you can get sucked in to. I am always trying to keep a diversified list of news sources, but it's harder than you think. I felt guilty reading the article because I know that I am definitely susceptible to this effect, as is everyone. This is a great article by Nikolas Kristof of the NYT on this very topic. Enjoy! Beckmania.

The Daily Me

Pearls Before Breakfast

2009-03-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

I read this a while ago and just came across it again - awesome article in the Washington Post about one of the world's greatest musicians setting up shop in a subway as part of an experiment regarding how context affects people's consumption of art. Very very interesting. Enjoy! Beckmania.....

Pearls Before Breakfast

Rethinking The American Dream

2009-03-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

An interesting piece that questions how the 'American Dream' became synonymous with extreme wealth or success....a poignant observation about how the changeover to digital TV assumes everyone will have one, despite them being available for only 5 years and still being very expensive. Also discusses our improved material wealth being unrelated to our level of happiness - seen that theme before! Enjoy. Beckmania.

Rethinking The American Dream

Barry Schwartz: The real crisis? We stopped being wise

2009-02-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

A very interesting talk from Barry Shwartz on the loss of wisdom and how rules and incentives are not the cure all for fixing our problems. Enjoy! Beckmania

The Real Crisis? We Stopped Being Wise

Biomimicry

2009-02-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

A very cool article about biomimicry - the use of natural processes and phenomena to solve human design problems.

Quote:

"As a biologist, I see us as a species among species, and that means everything we make and do is natural. When we make a product or build a building, it's akin to a robin making a nest---it's an extension of our bodies, and just as subject to natural selection. The real question is not "Is this product or behavior natural?" but rather, "Is it well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul?"

Anything that we design-a product, a process, or a policy--has to ultimately pass muster in the biological realm. It has to help us thrive, but it also has to keep the habitat in tact for our successors. A robin building a nest and an architect building a building should have the same concern: "How will the chicks fare here?"

Another quote:

"We humans are at a turning point in our evolution. Though we began as a small population in a very large world, we have expanded in number and territory until we are now bursting the seams of that world. There are too many of us, and our habits are unsustainable."

Fascinating stuff. Enjoy! Beckmania.

Biomimicry: An Interview With Janine Benyus

The Shopper Of Tomorrow: Trading Down

2009-02-19T13:40:00.001-08:00

An interesting article on how the downturn will impact shopping habits. Some choice quotes:

"It's important that people know there is no acquisition in life that is transformative -- not a lipstick, not an iPhone, not a new Chevy. Nothing changes you into somebody you weren't before that purchase happened."

"Wharton marketing professor Leonard Lodish says Americans may have a reputation for materialistic values, but are probably not any more inherently consumer-driven than human beings around the world"

"Marketers, he says, do not ignite consumerism, but respond to the urge which comes from within. "It's very hard to create an innate need. That comes from the interplay of society and the values and norms of the culture."

Enjoy! - Beckmania.

The Shopper Of Tomorrow: Trading Down

How The Crash Will Reshape America

2009-02-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a very interesting (but on the long-ish side) article by Richard Florida that discusses how the current economic crash will affect different parts of the US in different ways - areas that are more dependent on manufacturing will be hit harder and are less resilient than more service based cities. I have read a couple of his books and he is always very interesting to read. Enjoy! Beckmania.....

How The Crash Will Reshape America

The No-Stats All Star

2009-02-16T13:56:00.001-08:00

Michale Lewis does it again, this time with an article about the use of statistics in NBA basketball. It discusses Shane Battier and how despite measuring poorly on standard player statistics, his team has much better results with him in the game, mostly bc of the subtle things he does that don't get recorded. At least they didn't used to......Enjoy, Beckmania...

The No-Stats All Star

Economics In A Full World

2009-02-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

A very interesting article about the sustainability of the current global economy. It makes intuitive sense that if the ecosystem is limited, and the global economy keeps growing, that something has to give. "Economic theory has traditionally dealt mainly with allocation. It has not dealt with the issue of scale (the physical size of the economy relative to the ecosystem)". There is also a nice schematic on 'utility vs disutility' that tries to explain 'bad growth'....fascinating stuff. Enjoy! Beckmania....

Economics In A Full World

Can Google Fix Detroit?

2009-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Jeff Jarvis wrote a book called What Would Google Do that basically examines a number of struggling industries to see if they could be saved or improved by dragging themselves out of the old way of doing things.....notoriously hard for large organizations, but as the economic crisis is showing, perhaps no longer an option. Enjoy! Beckmania.....

Detroit Should Get Cracking On Its Googlemobile

How Tweet It Is

2009-02-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

An interesting article on Twitter, my neighbor here at work in SF, and their current outlook and thoughts on the success they are experiencing.....

How Tweet It Is

The End Of Solitude

2009-01-30T18:17:00.000-08:00

A former Yale professor discusses our decrease in solitude and ability to enjoy it.....another interesting impact of the always on ever more connected existence brought on by cell phones and the Internet...Thanks to John Paluska for the forward. Enjoy! Beckmania.....

The End Of Solitude

Happiness and Our Day To Day Decision Making

2009-01-20T20:28:00.000-08:00

This is a fun talk about how humans make (or are bad at making) day to day decisions using the equation of expected value = probably of the event * value of the event....it provides evidence that the long standing assumption by economists of humans being utility maximizing rational entities is inadequate. It's not surprise that most recent economics awards have rewarded those exploring behavioral economics - or how people actually behave, not how they should behave. The Q&A period is also interesting and slightly different - there is a quote worth pondering in there - "Our reaction to terrorism has been OUTSIZED'. It makes more sense to deal with poverty than terrorism....it's a bit long, but good fun. Enjoy! Beckmania....

Ayn Rand Mike Wallace Interview 1959 part 1

2009-01-20T17:14:00.001-08:00

This is a fascinating interview of Ayn Rand by Mike Wallace. I think there is both tons to admire and tons to disagree with in Objectivism (Rand's philosophy - too much to go into here), but it certainly gets the brain cells churning and is relevant to our present situation, especially given how many Rand fans have influenced the US over the past few decades....Enjoy! Beckmania

PS: Note that Wallace is actually SMOKING during the interview - my how times have changed.

PPS: Note also that there are many other videos on YouTube (like parts 2 and 3 of the interview) that are worth watching if you are interested....

The Cuban Revolution At 50

2009-01-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

An interesting article in the Economist that provides a brief summary of Cuba's history from the overthrow of Batista's government to the present day state of affairs. It will be interesting to see where Cuba ends up in the next 5-10 years, especially if Venezuela's financial assistance diminishes along with the lower price of oil....Enjoy - Zigmania.

The Cuban Revolution at 50

Literal Music Videos - Hilarious

2008-12-30T08:53:00.000-08:00

A-Has 'Take on Me', done by the Literal Music Video crowd. Awesome:

Take On Me

Enjoy! Zigmania

Western Spaghetti by PES

2008-12-30T08:44:00.001-08:00

This is a super creative video that is simply fascinating....loved it! Enjoy, Beckmania

Stuff Is Not Salvation

2008-12-16T13:06:00.000-08:00

This is a light hearted article questioning why we think we need so much stuff. It touches on some of the articles I posted months ago on the topic of happiness.....my question remains - if we know the answer, why do so many (myself included) sometimes ignore it?? Enjoy, Beckmania

Stuff Is Not Salvation

What Is Art For?

2008-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

An interesting piece about art, copyright, and fostering innovation....and it mentions Burning Man, Thoreau, and Bruce Cockburn in the same article....Sweet. Enjoy, Beckmania!

What is Art For?

Farmer In Chief

2008-10-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

A somewhat lengthy but very interesting article on why revamping the food industry should be at or near the top of the national agenda....It's by Michael Pollan (Omnivore's Dilemma), so it's very well written and quite balanced. The fun part comes when he starts suggesting the First Family manage its own garden on the South Lawn of the White House as a symbolic gesture! Enjoy. Beckmania

Farmer In Chief

Green Tech Capitalism

2008-10-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

Great NYT piece on the Kleiner Perkins investments in green technologies....Enjoy. Beckmania.

Capitalism To The Rescue

Reversal of Fortune

2008-10-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Joseph Stieglitz, former head of the World Bank, shares his thoughts on the current financial crisis. Interesting reading.....enjoy! Beckmania

Reversal Of Fortune

Political Lies Don't Matter

2008-09-24T11:06:00.001-07:00

A fascinating, if not somewhat depressing, piece regarding the effectiveness of outright lies on the campaign trail. Incredible. Explains a lot though....Enjoy. Beckmania.

Liar's Poker

Making Sense Of It All

2008-09-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a good, easy to read, summary of the absolute insanity that has hit Wall Street in the past few weeks/months. Wowsers.

How Financial Madness Overtook Wall Street

Ambient Awareness

2008-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

This is a long but fascinating piece on the phenomenon of 'ambient awareness' that tools like Twitter and Facebook's Status and News Feed features provide. At first blush, the thought of hearing about someone's daily minutiae seems inane, but many users attest to the fact that it provides an interesting way to stay up to date with many people in a very low touch way. It's a fascinating new possibility for expanding your 'Dunbar number', and expanding the potential of your weak ties, a well documented source of useful connections.....Enjoy! Beckmania.

Brave New World of Digital Intimacy

Russia Is Back

2008-08-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Ronald Steel suggests that Russia is back, and behaving no differently than the US as it uses its newfound wealth and control of natural resources to protect what it views as its 'sphere of influence'. Interesting times ahead....Enjoy. Beckmania

A Superpower Is Reborn

The Layperson Disconnect

2008-08-20T12:43:00.001-07:00

There are always some things, say the economists, for which the opinion of the vast majority of experts and those of the lay people differ. It's pretty fascinating when experts pretty much unanimously agree on something (I know, I know, that's an exaggeration but it comes close to happening) , yet a general population thinks differently. Here is an article discussing this phenomenon in the context of energy independence. Ah those economists, always making so much utility maximizing sense.....Enjoy. Beckmania.

The Idiocy of Energy Independence

The Great Illusion

2008-08-15T10:57:00.001-07:00

Fascinating big picture article from Paul Krugman. It made me think of the famous George Santayana quotation:" "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it"....Is the level of global economic interconnectedness itself cyclical over a period of decades?? Enjoy. Beckmania.....

The Great Illusion

Harmony and the Dream

2008-08-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting piece from David Brooks - he suggests that some aspects of a collectivist (as opposed to individualistic) society are actually quite appealing and merit thought when thinking about ideal societies....this could spawn a thousand conversations....Enjoy! Beckmania

Harmony and the Dream

Obamanomics

2008-07-31T02:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Tom Palecek for forwarding this article on Barack Obama's economic policies....for me it's the most concerning part of an Obama win - his proposed SS tax is harmful and decouples taxes and benefits. I think his anti-trade banter in the primaries was a 'primary thing' and that he is tacking to the center. Then again, things get so distorted in the media I don't know what to believe - it appears Obama has some bad tax plans for sure, but are we certain the Republicans would be much better? Despite being the party of 'low taxes and small government', they have proven to be exactly the opposite lately. Where is our libertarian alternative?? Too bad Ron Paul is 50% right on, and 50% nuts.....anyways, great topics for discussion if you are the political discusser type. Enjoy. Beckmania.....

Obamanomics Is A Recipe For Recession

Are you a member of the 2000 Watt Society?

2008-07-29T03:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jon Paluska for this article from the New Yorker that talks about a small island in Denmark that, over the course of ten years, turned itself into a net energy producer via local/community actions. Pretty cool. It also talks about the 2000 Watt Society.....can we all get there? Enjoy. Beckmania

The Island In The Wind

No Need For More Power Plants?

2008-07-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that increases in efficiency and reduction in wasteful energy consumption were rated low in terms of things we can do to consumer less energy....here is an interesting article that brings that topic to the fore with concrete examples of companies and government agencies that have saved loads of energy and boatloads of money in the process. Very cool. Enjoy! Beckmania

Why We Never Need To Build Another Polluting Power Plant

In The US, Selectively Applied Capitalism

2008-07-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

This piece is a little wonky and dry, but for those of you interested in government folly, you'll have a smile. Enjoy, Beckmania.

In The US, Selectively Applied Capitalism

Warren Buffett’s 7 Secrets for Living a Happy and Simple Life

2008-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's because Buffett can afford to live the simple life that he does so? Perhaps it's because he has actually figured it out? Who knows. Either way, there is plenty of wisdom in this post....Enjoy. Beckmania....

Warren Buffett’s 7 Secrets for Living a Happy and Simple Life

The Disadvantages Of An Elite Education

2008-07-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

This is an article by a former Yale English professor on the concerns he has about the elite education system in America, and how there are some disadvantages to the whole thing. Elite institutions are producing leaders, but are they the leaders we want or need? If you happen to have attended an 'elite institution' yourself, then you'll probably have reason to pause and think about your experience......Enjoy! Beckmania

The Disadvantages Of An Elite Education

One World, Two Big Ideas

2008-07-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

In honour (that's right, honour spelled with an ou, in other words the right way) of both Canada Day and the July 4th celebration in the US, here is a post with a little history on the origins and significance of them both. It might provide a little insight into why Canadians are such happy friendly people:) Enjoy
Beckmania

One World, Two Big Ideas

How The Web Was Won

2008-06-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

This is a pretty cool piece from Vanity Fair about the history of the Internet. Lots of fun quotes from industry leaders......A light read, but definitely informative, interesting, and enjoyable.

How The Web Was Won

Radical Rodents

2008-06-25T20:29:00.001-07:00

Here is a break from the articles - for all you surfers out there! Hilarious.....who knew the rodents ride?

Radical Rodents

Taking Ownership Of Iraq

2008-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece by Thomas Friedman about the dynamics in Iraq - pretty interesting look at what's going on there within the Iraqi population. It reminds of the various things I've read about trying to bring about democracy - the long and the short of it is that it's a difficult thing to do if the mechanism by which it comes about lacks 'legitimacy'. In other words, it mostly has to come from within, not without. Francis Fukuyama wrote a whole book about it....The situation in Iraq suffers from this lack of legitimacy, or at least I am guessing that to be the case. Maybe some can still be found?

Taking Ownership Of Iraq

After Neoconservativism

2008-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

This is an admittedly old, but still relevant and interesting article on the state of the neoconservative ideology, written by one of its grand poobahs Francis Fukuyama....Quote:"The problem with neoconservatism's agenda lies not in its ends, which are as American as apple pie, but rather in the overmilitarized means by which it has sought to accomplish them. What American foreign policy needs is not a return to a narrow and cynical realism, but rather the formulation of a "realistic Wilsonianism" that better matches means to ends." Enjoy!

After Neoconservativism

The Great Seduction

2008-06-10T07:36:00.001-07:00

This is an Op-Ed piece from David Brooks of the NYT, a writer I don't always agree with, but always find entertaining to read. At one point he brings up the lottery as a shameful practice for government - this relates to the comments in the 'Can Money Buy Happiness' article I posted a few weeks ago...seems to be some common opinion on that topic. Enjoy:

The Great Seduction

The Fall of Conservativism

2008-05-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Well, this one is a doozy of an article looking at the history of the conservative movement over the past 4 decades....A good quote to give you an idea of the articles content: "The fact that the least conservative, least divisive Republican in the 2008 race is the last one standing—despite being despised by significant voices on the right—shows how little life is left in the movement that Goldwater began, Nixon brought into power, Ronald Reagan gave mass appeal, Newt Gingrich radicalized, Tom DeLay criminalized, and Bush allowed to break into pieces." Wow. Enjoy!

The Fall Of Conservativism

PS: It's another suggestion from Matt Eggers - thank you for your continued contributions!

Reactable: basic demo #1

2008-05-17T18:42:00.001-07:00

This is a REALLY cool electronic table that produces some amazing sounds and effects....a must for lovers of the beats! Check it out.

The Singularity

2008-05-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a fascinating podcast of an interview with legendary inventor Ray Kurzweil. He discusses the fact that individual events are impossible to predict, but many large scale trends are 'exquisitely predictable'. Here is the summary:

"The prolific inventor, futurist and entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil, anticipates an “Age of Singularity,” when we'll be able to achieve a kind of immortality by downloading all of our essentially human qualities into a computer hard-drive. A feature interview by IDEAS host Paul Kennedy."

(I would recommend subscribing to the 'CBC: Best of Ideas' podcast -always good stuff)

Here is the link (you need to scroll down a bit to get to the Kurzweil podcast):

The Singularity

Portrait Of An Oil-Addicted Former Superpower

2008-05-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Matt Eggers for forwarding this interesting piece on the power of the US around the world and how it seems to be decreasing with the sustained elevation of the price of oil.....had to argue....(although I'd be happy to have you give it a go by posting a comment!). Enjoy:

Portrait Of An Oil-Addicted Former Superpower

The Neural Buddhists

2008-05-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Matt Eggers for this interesting piece on atheism, religion, and mysticism. The basic argument is that it's belief in the Bible, not belief in the soul or spirituality, that will increasingly erode, since science and mysticism complement each other, while science and the Bible do not. At least that is my quick take on it:) Enjoy:

The Neural Buddhists

Can Money Buy Happiness?

2008-05-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Money doesn't buy happiness." We've all heard it, we all know it, right? Why then is there still such a 'theory-practice' gap for so many people. You probably know many examples of this, possibly even yourself. This article covers the topic really well, citing a lot of the most well known and relevant studies that have been done on the topic. It also provides LOTS of food for thought on the role of government, individual responsibility, etc. Very enjoyable. Check it out:

Can Money Buy Happiness?

Surfwise: A Family That Surfs To A Beat: Its Own

2008-05-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

The NYT review of 'Surfwise', the new surf movie about surfing's 'first family' - the Paskowitz clan from San Onofre. I am looking forward to seeing the film!. Check out the review:

A Family That Surfs To A Beat: Its Own

The Rise of the Rest

2008-05-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Another great article by Fareed Zakaria. There is some overlap with my previous post from Zakaria ("The Future of American Power"), probably because it all comes from his new book ("The Post-American World"). The article talks about the third main power shift in history (the first being the rise of the West, starting around the 15th century, and the second is the rise of the US, starting around the end of the 19th century), which is the 'rise of the rest', meaning the undeniable rise of countries around the world. It's definitely an uplifting piece (for a change), as it puts many things into a perspective that is easy to lose in the modern media mania. There is a great line: Only three countries don't use the metric system: Liberia, Myanmar, and the US. If the US wants to lead the world, it's first going to have to join it! Check it out:

The Rise of The Rest

In Praise of Dual Class Stock Structures

2008-05-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is admittedly a wonky piece on the benefits of dual-class stock structures. Arguing for the benefits of such a structure certainly is against the norm, but when Warren Buffett, Google, and Marc Andreessen take a side, it's at least worth listening to their reasons.....here is the post from Andreeseen's blog:

In Praise of Dual Class Stock Structures

The Future of American Power

2008-04-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

Sit down with a cup of coffee and your laptop for another excellent (and lengthy) piece by Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek. A great discussion of the American Empire, why it's different than the British Empire that preceded it, and what it needs to do to maintain its global influence in the future. It's the type of piece you'd like the next US president to pay heed to. How can we get people like Zakaria to whisper in politician's ears? Particularly interesting is the discussion of how policy experts largely agree on 'best practices', but the broken US political system makes it difficult to get anything done.....Enjoy! Beckmania

The Future of American Power

The Seven Myths of Energy Independence

2008-04-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty interesting piece in Mother Jones (don't worry, it's pretty balanced:) discussing the concept of 'energy independence' and why it's not a realistic or appropriate goal for the US.....Enjoy
Beckmania

The Seven Myths of Energy Independence