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Monday, October 13. 2014

When Columbus came back to Spain with news of the West Indies, it was no big deal and of little interest in Europe. They found no spices.

Bruegel’s Hunting Dogs

Red Bull Settles False Advertising Lawsuit for $13 Million Because It Actually Doesn’t Give You Wings

The Trouble with Physics – Another branch of science captured by groupthink

They must have thought the guy was insane

The goal for some liberals, like medieval ascetics, is to live off only
cabbages that have been certified to have died a natural death.

The high heritability of educational achievement reflects many genetically influenced traits, not just intelligence

The Value of a College Degree is Falling

Biden prays for gun violence

"Why Do New York Restaurants Suck?" - The Surprising Answer

NYC has wonderful restaurants. It's the customers who suck

The Manhattan apartment with the furthest distance from the subway

Spinning out of control: Why voter doubt of big government is on the rise

From Mid-Atlantic to Midwest, Voters Express Frustration and Fatigue

They have been trained to expect too much from government

The
Manhattan apartment with the furthest distance from the subway - See
more at:
http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2014/10/the-manhattan-apartment-with-the-furthest-distance-from-the-subway.html#sthash.sGmGyeJN.dpuf

Men Have Depended on the Government for Centuries—So Why Shouldn't Women Do the Same?

California Law Requires Doctors To Undergo LGBT Re-education

Will: Rent Seeking: America’s National Pastime - A North Carolina case before the Supreme Court could strike a blow against the practice.

U.S. military faces new kind of threat with Ebola:

Captain Alex Willard, who was undergoing the training, said the West Africa mission was far different than the kinds of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan than many in the 101st "probably are more comfortable with."

Susan Collins says it’s too late to repeal Obamacare; Mark Levin responds

Conservatives' rhetorical disadvantage

Antarctic Sea Ice Sees Record Growth, Cause Climate Change

SHHH, NO ONE TELL THE ANTI-KEYSTONE PIPELINE NUTS: Canadian Oil Exports to U.S Hit Record High

Plotting an American-Style Fracking Revolution in Britain

War against Isis: US air strategy in tatters as militants march on

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 05:32 | Comments (17) | Trackbacks (0)

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The article on depending on government was jaw-droppingly fantasist.

#1 ErisGuy on 2014-10-13 06:40 (Reply)

I read where the Canadians are planning an end run around the anti-pipeline nuts, even the ones in the White House and State Department. They will extend a pipeline to the coast of Nova Scotia, then use tankers to export the oil to the GOMEX refineries by transiting down past Martha's Vineyard, and around Florida. Good news is, the Gulf Stream means southbound traffic hugs the coast and, you know, hurricanes.

The enviro nuts will then be begging for the much safer Keystone Pipeline extension.

#2 JKB on 2014-10-13 10:18 (Reply)

Nah, they only want us to give up evil oil entirely.

#2.1 mary on 2014-10-13 12:28 (Reply)

"Susan Collins, told a local news station that she won’t vote to repeal Obamacare because we are past the point of repealing Obamacare."

Susan Collins is an example of our Rino Republican move to the left. Even if Republicans get control of the senate next month I don't expect them to repeak Obamacare, fix the border, cut spending, cut taxes, cut the size of government. Their only goal in getting elected seems to be to reward their cronies instead of the Democrat cronies. I would prefer the Republicans lose in their bid to take the senate. I would much prefer to be screwed over by the Democrats then stabbed in the back by the Republicans.

#3 GoneWithTheWind on 2014-10-13 10:19 (Reply)

It's great reasoning, though, isn't it? Now isn't the time to repeal Obamacare, because it isn't the time.

#3.1 Texan99 on 2014-10-13 18:58 (Reply)

When did Congress become a god?

What Congress has wrought, let no Congress pull asunder.

This defies what we know of human endeavor, especially political and committee endeavors. Namely, that human endeavor is most often wrong, cannot withstand the tests of time and must improvise, adapt, overcome in order to continue.

QUOTE:

How is it that the mind devises and the hand executes with such nice adaptation of means to the end in view, a bridge, that resembles a spider's web, and yet bears thousands of tons and endures for ages, but when it undertakes to legislate evolves statutes that wear out in a year?

#4 JKB on 2014-10-13 10:32 (Reply)

So is the value of a college degree declining or is the quality of the degrees on offer lower than in the past?

There seems to be no evidence that the value of knowledge that a college degree is s, let's use high finance, a derivative. Now the value of a derivative is suppose to reflect the value of the underlying asset(s). Problem is, these derivatives came to be valued by who bundled the underlying assets rather than those assets directly. Owning a particular college derivative came to be seen as having more value than a less prestigious bundler's derivative. Thus the derivative became adrift from the value of the underlying assets and was used as a signal to others of status. This speculation in the derivatives drove up the price of the underlying asset leading to increasing leverage. Unfortunately, some are starting to see that the "value" of the derivative is not representative of the value of the underlying bundle of knowledge. It is this reconciliation of values that is being seen in the market with the perceptive value of the derivative falling to reflect the quality of the underlying bundle of knowledge, which has declined.

#5 JKB on 2014-10-13 10:52 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Peter Robinson: Conservatives' rhetorical disadvantage: Conservatism starts from a sentiment that all mature people can readily share: the sentiment that good things are easily destroyed, but not easily created.

This is an excellent statement of conservative principle. Notice how he ascribes it to "all mature people". The problem is that he doesn't match that statement with an equally valid statement of the liberal principle.

QUOTE:

Peter Robinson: Their position is true but boring, that of their opponents exciting but false.

What? Liberals advocate easy destruction?

Of course not. While mature conservatives understand the need for change, but are concerned about the preservation of traditional institutions, mature liberals understand the need to preserve the good in traditional institutions while pushing for reform. Too fast of change, and society can come apart. Too slow of change, society will stagnate, and may yet still come apart. There is an ebb and flow to social progress.

#6 Zachriel on 2014-10-13 11:03 (Reply)

what is "progress"?

#6.1 bd on 2014-10-13 13:27 (Reply)

QUOTE:

Liberals advocate easy destruction?

Of course not.

"Liberals" (to use your name) are all about destruction. For example, the Boy Scouts and small business owners with religious convictions counter to the leftist line. In the case of the Boy Scouts, lefties have been all about changing them because they don't like the fact that they have a different view of homosexuality than they. Rather than create their own "scouts" that incorporate their view, they work to force the Boy Scouts to change. In the case of small business owners, if a potential customer requests that they decorate a cake or perform a ceremony on their property that violates their values, they have to either suck it up or close down. Of course, in this case, there are many other options for the potential customer but I guess it's too much to ask him respect the business owner's views.

#6.2 mudbug on 2014-10-13 16:30 (Reply)

re he Trouble with Physics – Another branch of science captured by groupthink

There was also this today: Liberal bias in academia is destroying the integrity of research

"The academy has become a kind of club where friends give friends flattering assessments of research, which essentially guarantees promotions and tenure."

http://nypost.com/2014/10/12/liberal-bias-in-academia-is-destroying-the-integrity-of-research/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow

#7 feeblemind on 2014-10-13 11:12 (Reply)

Re: Redbull class action suit

This is the problem with our tort system - spineless corporations who think it pays them to pay out a "small" award for a ridiculous claim rather than litigate it.

Before I wrote that, I was going to say that that was the second problem with our tort system and the first was that people view it as a high probability lottery ticket but the fact is that those people (opportunists and dirtbags to be sure) are just responding to the reality that they can extort money from "wealthy" companies because they don't want to be bothered by these suits. If more of these were litigated, there would be fewer lawyers looking for a quick, easy buck.

I often get notices in the mail of my opportunity to join a class suing some company for securities law violations. One time I filled in all the required information and sent it in. A few weeks or months later, I received a check for a few dollars. That was the last time I will ever do that. First, I don't even know what they did that harmed me. Second, if it was only worth a few dollars, I don't think I would be too upset by it if I found out what it was. Thirdly, the lawyers who brought the suit made millions while I probably couldn't buy lunch with my award. So in this system, the people who were "harmed" get next to nothing, the company pays millions in awards and legal fees, and the lawyers get rich.

It reminds me of the central idea behind the Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater where the antagonist lawyer tries to wrestle Rosewater's inheritance from him because he remembers that his law professor told him that in every transaction, there is a split second where you can grab a piece of it. It seems either that was a popular book among lawyers or they had a similar professor.

#8 mudbug on 2014-10-13 11:13 (Reply)

The lawsuits weren't anything about flying, you can read the actual lawsuit here:

http://www.energydrinksettlement.com/docs/Careathers_First_Amended_Complaint_04.01.13.pdf

RedBull gives you glasses to read beyond the headlines. True Fact.

#8.1 Bluefields on 2014-10-13 19:19 (Reply)

‘The Manhattan apartment with the furthest distance from the subway’

Q: How fur is it?

Explanation: “Further” is time; “farther” is distance, as the author of the referenced column knows: “… there on the map lies the farthest residential building …”

Marginal Revolution does not know the difference.

#9 SgtBob (Link) on 2014-10-13 14:15 (Reply)

Sgt. Bob, I visited your site and read the piece about the Battle of Trafalger. The question is posed: what if Admiral Nelson had a pc/diversity officer looking over his shoulder during the battle? The scenario is amusing and instructive.

#9.1 WisconsinRoger on 2014-10-13 15:35 (Reply)

Wisconsinroger: Thank you. It was one of those things that sometimes pops up: What would have happened if ...

#9.1.1 SgtBob (Link) on 2014-10-17 18:40 (Reply)

re California Law Requires Doctors To Undergo LGBT Re-education

I wonder if this is all about enriching a crony?

Someone has to accumulate the propaganda and deliver the indoctrination.

I bet it is a lucrative gig for whomever gets it.

#10 feeblemind on 2014-10-13 18:28 (Reply)

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Monday, October 13. 2014

Monday morning links