Clearing Bookmarks
Long time, no post. I’d say overall I’ve been mesmerized by the continuing economic slide, and saddened by “successes” in environmental issues that seem more pretense. Maybe environment and economics share something there.
Regardless:
I haven’t yet listened to the Happiest Man in the World, though I’d guess there is something there about worrying less over things and losses.
Two links for SciFi books, here and here. Now I can iPhone them from the library. It is handy being able to google things, or check amazon reviews, when I’m out and about. Sometimes I forget that I can … a problem for older early adopters.
Speaking of Hulu and the Older Early Adopter, I managed to wire my notebook to my lcd tv and watch the first episode of The Time Tunnel. I remember it being my favorite show, and waiting for it in anticipation … though I would have been about eight. Maybe I’m remembering reruns. Anyway, the first episode is crazy with big old computers that just have dials for controls. Great show, great for irony, watching it via the internet and wifi.
On economics, Taking Apart the $819 billion Stimulus Package
Time magazine put up a list of the Best 25 Financial Blogs.
Robert Engle on Risk Management and the Financial System – I found his defense unconvincing. He talks about VaR working because if you ran it every day it would show you that you were increasingly in trouble. Too bad that you were too late to unwind your positions, eh? It’s like navigating a boat with the depth finder. Usually it will work. You can feel your way along the cost using the 200ft line … until you get to a dangerous place where you should be no where near.
The Washington Post claimed Economists Agree Time Is of the Essence for Stimulus, but that was not as surprising as Greg Mankiw saying he was on board, with a “green” strategy even.
Items:
Media Matters: Fundamentally flawed stimulus coverage
The paradox of thrift
The Death of ‘Rational Man’
Herbert Hoover Lives
Recession? No, It’s a D-process, and It Will Be Long
Dubai Hits Economic Reset
What if both Greenspan and his critics were right?
Bankers’ Pay as Sign of the Apocalypse
Jeremy Grantham: We Need to Halve Private Debt
The Peaknik Diaspora
Paul Kedrosky seems to be racking up the highest fraction of my bookmarks.
I’m finally tired of that whole “Backlash Continues” thing, so this will just trail the post:
Now is the time for a revolution in economic thought
First, We Kill All the Economists