moreover

My inner poli sci geek still enjoys fivethirtyeight for its interesting breakdowns.

It's driving me out of my mind; that's why it's hard for me to find

(apologies to Bel Biv Devoe)

Have been in a bit of a whirlwind couple of weeks, what with homework, strategy games, case competition things, and planning a hugely major event, but I give you this thoughtful video from Durham-based Cree, Inc. Makers of quite impressive LED lighting.



I wonder how it affects the payback period when you factor in the effects of incandescent on heating and cooling. Also, I wonder how you'd quantify the additional carbon emissions and footprint reduction.

a letter to the internet, in the shadow of Health Care Reform

Dear Internet (Blogosphere, especially):

I'm not sure how to feel about this whole Health Care Reform thing. I mean, the progressive in me thinks that a step forward is a good step, but the humanist in me thinks it's kind of hollow without at least a public option. Then there's the businessperson who's, well... kind of miffed that it doesn't include any substantial efforts to actually curb costs in a meaningful way.

Look, I know I'm supposed to feel violently one way or another (that's how everyone else seems to be responding), but I'm just sort of... torn.

Then there's all this attention being given to the pundits and politicians, and how this will affect their careers. Frankly, they have insurance coverage for life that's pretty pimp, and they're pretty much guaranteed a job even if they don't get re-elected (someone somewhere is always looking for a big mouth) and so I don't really see how it matters one way or another to them. ...But to me?

Internet, I think you're ignoring me. You're feeding me all these stories, and they're contradictory, and angry or defensive, and it doesn't even seem like you're being sincere or thoughtful about it. Like, maybe just some thoughtful, levelheaded discussion would help our relationship a lot.

I want to work it out. Like Al Green said, let's stay together.

Please?

<3,

-SLN-

hmm

I think we may have a good example of what one of my professors likes to call a No Shit hypothesis. High Fructose Corn Syrup actually does have negative effects. Amazing how long it took to get conclusive evidence, given that long-term studies require... oh... long terms to study.

spring type break!

Hiatus!!'d!

people respond to incentives

(^probably not good for public health costs)
Rush Limbaugh threatened to leave the US if health reform passes. c'mon, folks! this ought to be incentive enough to figure out health care reform! an aside, I've got two bits of news for Mr. Limbaugh:

1. All industrialized nations except the US (including Costa Rica!) provide health care for their citizens, and even many developing countries.

2. Free health care = free pills, man! You ought to be lobbying *hard* for universal.

US jobs and investments

The ever-geeky FiveThirtyEight gives us a wonderful rundown of what's happening with manufacturing in the US. It seems US manufacturing is actually increasing, but jobs are disappearing due to advances in productivity. I can definitely buy this, given the insane level of automation and technology integration many industries are working with.

Also, he concludes with some suggestions about what should be done to ensure competitiveness (including things like floating the yuan), but one of the more interesting ideas is this:

Secondly, there have been calls for a US industrial policy -- that is, for Washington to essentially "pick winners and losers" by promoting some industries that they feel have a high probability of success. Asian countries have been doing this for years with remarkable success and it is a policy which we clearly need to copy. I'm a big promoter of nano-technology, alternative energy and stem cell research, but those are just my choices. There are plenty others out there that would also make sense.

Maybe Washington is listening?

I may have nightmares now.

Watch as a tree branch that has fallen on power lines screeches, gradually glows, and bursts into flame. A reminder to stay the hell away from power lines.