An article titled “One or more bound planets per Milky Way star from microlensing observations” was published January 11, 2012 in Nature1 . Previously, planets have been detected using radial velocity methods but only those planets in orbits closer to their star could be detected. Microlensing allows detection of planets at greater distances. Their conclusion … More Gravitational microlensing study – Say “Hello?”
I may regret that title. I’m sure that it will attract a number of readers expecting something a bit more exciting. Sorry to disappoint but this post is not about watching free porn. It’s about correlation and causation. I came across an interesting graph of GDP versus belief in evolution on the Calamities of Nature … More Is there a relationship between “watch free porn” and “godly”?
I expect bias when reading articles from certain sources. In my attempt not to succumb to withdrawing into my own comfortable, information cocoon and read only news that I know will support my existing positions I continue to read articles from sources with known points of view including the Wall Street Journal. But in reading … More “There you go again” – Government regulations, the economy and data abuse.
Humans are a strange species when you think about it. We seem to have mastered the art and science of killing each other and of blowing things up. No other species can come close and it is inescapable that America places a higher value on these primal abilities than any other country. At least that … More The human species and military spending
Watching the current crop of politicians pursuing the Republican presidential nomination is very much like watching a reality television show where there are no qualifications required to participate. That may be fine for the Kardashians but shouldn’t there be slightly higher standards for running for president? Maybe it would make sense to have a simple … More A simple screening quiz to run for federal office?
In the battle of a pledge to a special interest lobbyist versus an oath of office to God is there any doubt which one is superior? It is bewildering to me that some elected representatives believe a pledge is more important than their oath of office. I would like to believe that at some point … More Is a pledge more important than an oath?
I started this post because I was curious about how the number of deaths in the wars I can remember compared. I remember the morning news reporting weekly American deaths in Vietnam reaching into the hundreds and I know, thankfully, mortality rates have been lower in Iraq and Afghanistan. When comparing the monthly death counts … More Vietnam to Afghanistan: What does it take?
Macroeconomics is not a simple subject and I claim no special knowledge of it. However one of Paul Krugman’s recent blog postings caught my eye if for no other reason than the sheer wonkiness of the title, “Vector Autoregressions And Keynesian Macro.” In this posting, Krugman references materials in Christina and DavidRoamedr’s Macroeconomic History course. Chapter … More Vector Autoregressions, Simplicity and Congress
Small business owners are responsible for creating the vast number of jobs in America but their average income of just over $100,000 falls far below any proposal to increase the top marginal tax rate on incomes over $500,000. Contrary to high pitched rhetoric, increasing the top marginal individual income tax rate will not adversely impact … More “Job Creators” unaffected by increasing top personal tax rate
People and their priorities are often a curiosity to me. I always have struggled to understand the popularity of selected, tragic current events. How can anyone forget the heart wrenching stories of Natalie Holloway or Elizabeth Smart? The riveting story of the day is the Casey Anthony trial and the untimely loss of her young … More People, Priorities and Casey Anthony
Confronting Mediocrity 