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For Our Pirate Readers

Arrr. Shiver me timbers! Why hasn’t CEI done more t’ celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day? Only one post? Although Seafarin’ heartys be, fer…

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Internet Co-Ops, Why Not?

Wayne’s post got me thinking. Yes, of course, its absurd for Sen. Byron Dorgan to say that consumers somehow own fiber “pipes” that clearly…

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Goodbye to Active Management?

A very interesting USA Today story points to investors’ flight from actively managed mutual funds largely in favor of index funds. In general, mutual…

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In Defense of Freegans (Sorta)

Well, someone had to do it. UnlikeWayne I don’t mind the freegans. Yes, they’re annoying and self righteous. But they do practice what they…

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About Metro

Hans, I have three comments about what you say here. First, on paratransit. The paratransit service (MetroAccess) in this area is already run by…

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About that $100 Million Skull

I count myself amongst those who think Damien Hirst — he of the shark-in formaldehyde — a first-rate artist. His work is shocking, interesting, stimulating,…

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Sen. Johnson is Back

Senator Tim Johnson, returned to work yesterday. His return means that the debate over Optional Federal Chartering of insurance will heat up (link…

Insurance

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Friars in the City

The Washington Post carries a very interesting story about the growth of a Roman Catholic Religious Order. Two things I find interesting from a…

Blog

OFC Debate to Begin Again

With Tim Johnson, the lead sponsor of the Optional Federal Charter for insurance companies back in the U.S. Senate next week, it’s likely that the…

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Computers: The Fun is Gone

Taiwan’s Acer has announced plans to acquire computer-maker Gateway. In its heyday during the 1990s, Gateway ran brash, folksy ads in just about every…

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One Light Bulb: $47.00

I came home Thursday to find an Light Emitting Diode (LED) light bulb in my mailbox. I had ordered it on ebay and paid…

Study

Watery Marauders

Full Document Available in PDF This paper describes how America’s National Flood Insurance Program came into…

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Harry Potter Books as Objects

Fran, Very interesting post on typesetting in Harry Potter. I’ve always wondered what part of the Harry Potter books’ appeal is their truly spectacular…

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$1 a Year Man

Chrsysler, has hired former Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli to run the now-private, once-again-American-owned automaker. Nardelli, of course, did a good job at Home…

Labor and Employment

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Bergman the Hack

Fran, Obviously, I’m sorry to see that Ingmar Bergman has died. But, beyond some half-praise for his visuals, I can’t think of much good…

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Hands off VOIP

Today's New York Times carries a story about the sudden failure and shutdown of my former home telephone company, SunRocket. Although it obviously…

Consumer Freedom

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Plans for the A380

EADS, the parent of Airbus and the largest heavy industrial company in Europe, yesterday announced that it would no longer have two CEOs…

Blog

What Lending Crisis?

Inside Higher Ed carries a very interesting article about how Columbia University’s Barnard College cut its volume of student loans by 73 percent. According…

Op-Eds

Short on Storm Coverage

So long as hurricanes continue to sweep through Florida's landscape, Floridians will have to find ways to repair the damage. As the Sentinel…

Insurance

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Mandatory Purchase

In a piece in Saturday's Washington Examiner, I examine the parallels between auto insurance and health insurance, and, for the most part, find that…

Healthcare

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Support for Big Government Grows

The Pew Center finds that a growing percentage of Americans believe that “government should have the responsibility to take care of those who can’t…