All sorts of fun and craziness
August 13th, 2006
Here is an interesting site with a very interesting idea, avillage on the web. Basically, a catalog of a small town in India. There is even Excel data on the people who live there, which I’m sure is a researcher’s wet dream. But all in all, a really interesting way to learn about a new place if you can’t go there. Thanks to Digg.
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August 12th, 2006
The Chicago Sun-Times is running an article on a gas station required by law to sell E85 fuel at inflated prices. This post is not about the environmental benefits/non-benefits of E85 - I’m not qualified to talk about that, other than to say that any steps we can take to use resources more efficiently are probably good.
I am also not entirely qualified to talk about the economics of it, but I do know a lot more about economics than environmental policy. The idea that the “Wisconsin Consumer Protection investigators” would investigate a gas station for selling fuel to cheaply boggles the mind. At a time when fuel prices are high, why would a government authority need to enforce high prices? If the gas station can sell E85 more cheaply and earn better profits by doing so, why shouldn’t they? Combined with the fact that E85 has about 20% less fuel efficiency than regular gasoline, it probably should be a good 20% cheaper.
There is simple microeconomic theory at play, supply and demand. There is no reason the government should need to be involved to prop up fuel prices. If there is excess capacity to produce grain to create E85, and a gas station can sell E85 (or any substitute good) for a lower price then they should. The market should be allowed to set the prices, and if the price for E85 is less than the price for gasoline, then so be it, the E85 fuel is less valuable to the consumers, and less expensive for the supplier (or the supplier is willing to accept lower profits than E85 producers).
The underlying issue is that we need to eliminate the inefficient and expensive laws and regulations that provide no value the market cannot provide itself. There are many laws and regulations that do exactly what the market would do, but only after too many people have been hurt (such as FDA approval of drugs). The market would most certainly drive the price for a drug that couldn’t pass FDA level test down to $0, but only after people had been hurt. This is not to say the FDA systems works efficiently, but that the concept isn’t bad. There are other laws and regulations, such as minimum prices, that are effectively opposite of market behavior. This is generally bad for everyone. Some might say that the higher profits for the fuel suppliers would lead to higher salaries and the money being injected back in to the economy. I think this would be a broken window fallacy type of argument.
So, Wisconsin, if you want to protect the consumers, let the market decide what E85 is worth, and it is worth $0.10 a gallon on the open market then that is what it is worth.
Categories: Uncategorized | 1 Comment
August 12th, 2006
As a frequent and often bitter traveler, I’m especially disappointed about the most recent implementation of new rules banning liquids such as toothpaste and shampoo. This immediately seemed to me like killing a fly with a howitzer.
Well, it seems as though Patrick Smith over at Salon feels the same about the liquid bans. This is a great view of the changes, and why they won’t make a shits worth of difference. I want flights to be as safe as possible, just like everyone else. But, there is a price we pay for too much security - missed flights, missed meetings, missed dates, buying new toothpaste, lost productivity standing line, the frustration and anger that builds among travelers who would never even dream of causing a problem on a flight.
The point is, we need to be safe and secure, but we need to place our energy in the right places and not take extreme measures to protect against the most unlikely of scenarios. We need better technology, and as Smith notes - better policing. The security line is the very last line of defense. If the bad guy gets to the security line, it’s too late.
Categories: Travel | No Comments
August 11th, 2006
A lot of the blogs I read are taking a break right about now due to general summer slowdown and annual vacations. Our little blog seems to fit the pattern as it is definitely pretty quiet on the site.
Well, lemmie tell ya’ll– it ain’t for the lack of stuff to do. (That’s about as much of bad spelling as I can handle in a year. Back to proper English now.) Both Ben and I are quite busy both at work and at home. The wedding invitations need to go out this weekend, honeymoon trip needs to be booked, bridal party presents are waiting to be bought– and that’s just the fun half of the tasks! Ben is in the middle of his corporate travel spree (CA this week, OH next week, GA after that…) and I am engrossed in my work. As an exception to the we-don’t-talk-about-work-here rule, I’d like to say that I have some new and exciting job responsibilities that are a bit overwhelming at the moment but they provide a new challenge and I absolutely love it. Does that make me a corporate drone? Probably 
Categories: Random/Funny | No Comments
August 8th, 2006
The cars are struggling to fit into a tiny parking lot. People are gathering impatiently in front of a graffiti-clad theater building. I get my ticket two minutes before the show is sold out. Lucky. The patrons are wearing their Fringle buttons with pride. The crowd looks excited, mismatched and liberal. They don’t seem to respect deodorants too much and enjoy breast-feeding their offsprings in full sight. Ah, the theater week is back.
If you live in Twin Cities, go see this. It will make you laugh, make you bitter, teach you new words (that Iowan chick is transracial yo!), and at the end make you feel good about this little country called America.
Categories: Music, Movies, etc | No Comments
August 7th, 2006
I was out buying a sympathy card today (a death in extended family) and had the hardest time finding one that didn’t include the word “prayer.” I was in a regular store where religious cards don’t exceed 10%-20% for other occasion greetings (how often do you see “We have moved– praise the Lord!” cards?). I don’t want to mislead anyone since I will most definitely not be praying; I did finally find a secular card. This little incident illustrates what I have read in history books: religion tends to be born at the time of fear. Fear of thunder, flood, death send people flocking to super-natural explanations of why we’re here and if we’re at all special.
Categories: Random/Funny | 1 Comment
August 5th, 2006
My big eBay gamble has paid off– the dress is here, the model that I ordered, not used, not dirty, not ugly. It’s a little too big so my mom has her work cut out for her. Next step is a lingerie department: I am in the market for an industrial strength hold’em-all bra contraption.
For now, I am back to authoring our wedding website.
Yours truly,
the delinquent bride.
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August 2nd, 2006
The childless airline. I totally relate with the author - please, please, please an 18+ airline.
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August 2nd, 2006
to bring you Lana! She has already been featured on this blog (just check the Puppies! category) and I am happy to provide an update on her. She’s staying cute and generates a lot of trouble anywhere she goes.
Categories: Puppies! | No Comments
