tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34021790494183376792012-02-16T21:01:58.170-05:00A GW Student's Blog About Economics, Politics and MoreJJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.comBlogger871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-85496255661543488052008-11-17T17:52:00.002-05:002008-11-17T17:54:14.660-05:00

Just to let anyone know who stumbles upon this blog, I have moved over to Wordpress. I felt this move is symbolic of my commitment to start posting on Welcome Back Friedman again.Thanks,JJwelcomebackfriedman.wordpress.com

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-82767599867310096262008-08-27T21:18:00.001-04:002008-08-28T00:24:04.627-04:00

From WWII, here is a great, but scary, propaganda stating how it is Patriotic to pay your taxes.Most ridiculous quote: "Every dollar you spend for something you don't need is a dollar spent to help the Axis!"

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-6061623696104227832008-08-08T10:31:00.000-04:002008-08-08T10:32:12.158-04:00

The Wall Street Journal had a really cool article today about the new subway line in Dubai opening up corporate naming rights for its metro stops:Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is offering naming rights for 23 of the planned 47 metro stops, as well as for the two metro lines themselves. A rider on the new Dubai system might someday be getting off at, say, the Citibank stop on the Nike

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-86920948306079751482008-08-05T12:04:00.001-04:002008-08-05T12:05:44.891-04:00

The Wall Street Journal has the list.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-81720010687999863792008-07-28T14:52:00.005-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.661-05:00

(Washington Post) - Zimbabwe's bank chief plans new steps to address currency problems --removing "more zeros" from the plummeting Zimbabwe dollar and raising the limit on cash withdrawals -- to tackle the country's runaway inflation and cash shortages, state media reported Sunday. To improve liquidity on the market, Gono planned to remove "more zeros," the paper reported."This time, we will make

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-24423218402818055362008-07-28T11:28:00.002-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.758-05:00

A Z$100 billion note may be impressive, but Mugabe has a way to go before getting that #1 spot:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-86792450354203060572008-07-25T16:32:00.003-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.779-05:00

Sad thing is, this kid is probably buying a Snickers.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-65707270168718260622008-07-25T16:26:00.001-04:002008-07-25T16:26:23.528-04:00

Lawsuit in Alabama claims taxes are too low and therefore racist? I know the race card is often played at inappropriate times, but c'mon!

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-24098666767839713442008-07-22T10:41:00.001-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.840-05:00

From Fred & Friends:How to balance your pig-in-a-blanket with your Dom Perignon...that is the question. Fortunately, we’ve got the answer -— charming little plates with rings that fit right on your finger. Now you can balance your glass and your hors d’ouevres, and look positively in control the whole time. Genius! One size fits most, twelve reusable plates per handy peggable pack. (HT: Mental

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-24590377057376098302008-07-21T10:16:00.001-04:002008-07-21T10:16:50.561-04:00

(NYTIMES) - One product from this border town, though, trumps all others in terms of shock value: death in a bottle, a liquid more potent than even the strongest tequila.The drug, pentobarbital, literally takes a person’s breath away. It can kill by putting people to sleep, and it is tightly regulated in most countries. But aging and ailing people seeking a quick and painless way to end their

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-4897477207821080952008-07-21T09:54:00.002-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.880-05:00

With its economy in shambles due to ridiculous inflation (officially 2.2 million percent but could be as high as 10-15 million percent), Zimbabwe has introduced the Z$100,000,000,000 note. Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, said the new notes are for "the convenience of the banking public and corporate sector." Too bad Z$100 billion still won't buy you a loaf of bread.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-22420768098881853202008-07-16T17:54:00.003-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.902-05:00

Recently there has been a big stir over the new New Yorker cover showing the Obamas as secret radical Muslims. Of course, any person who actually could think past literal interpretations could see that this cover was meant to be satirical and point out how extreme some of the things said about the Obamas have been. However, since there is a large portion of the country that can't comprehend

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-55246848665183096412008-07-10T20:28:00.001-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.961-05:00

Another great video from Reason.tv. Drew Carey leads us through the sickening nanny state laws throughout the country.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-39238832346750557112008-07-08T16:00:00.002-04:002008-12-09T17:31:30.982-05:00

Much of today's rhetoric regarding manufacturing is always directed at countries with low labor costs such as China and India. Yet it seems if anything, robots are the main reason for manufacturing's decline, not low cost labor. We are becoming far more productive thanks to our future robotic overlords.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-36424871197999268182008-07-07T11:38:00.001-04:002008-07-07T11:38:31.836-04:00

Seems like Britain is on the road toward rationing carbon usage. And I thought only those big bad factories were going to have to deal with cap-and-trade?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-17030363760306884932008-06-11T10:04:00.002-04:002008-06-11T10:05:42.401-04:00

Mark Perry at Carpe Diem ponders why Congress wants a windfall profits tax on oil when there are 57 other industries with HIGHER profit margins than oil?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-58209155469471296312008-06-11T10:01:00.001-04:002008-12-09T17:31:31.303-05:00

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-52442324159633699682008-06-11T09:47:00.003-04:002008-12-09T17:31:31.466-05:00

Why is there no outrage over the robots that are taking the manufacturing jobs?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-55882065935315400522008-06-10T18:20:00.000-04:002008-12-09T17:31:31.515-05:00

What do you do if you live in Korea and are an avid golfer? Why not try out virtual golf?NY Times - Swinging real clubs, they took on Pebble Beach in California, St. Andrews in Scotland and other famed courses around the world. Of course, it was all computer-simulated: they hit their balls into 4-by-3-yard plastic screens showing projections of fairways. Simulated golf has been around in Europe

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-4694986122221421592008-06-10T10:37:00.000-04:002008-06-10T10:38:12.466-04:00

No wonder Borat seemed to have a problem with the Uzbeks, considering they have the "Door to Hell" and all...HT: Club For Growth

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-48062184977243100332008-06-10T10:35:00.001-04:002008-06-10T10:35:17.484-04:00

"Sen. Obama says that I'm running for a Bush's third terms. It seems to me he's running for Jimmy Carter's second"-McCain on NBC

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-82774700272446133362008-06-09T15:10:00.002-04:002008-06-11T09:47:17.613-04:00

Recently there was a bust in New York for an underground cigarette ring bringing lower taxed cigarettes from Virginia and Kentucky into Michigan and New York. This, coming on the heels of a $1.25/pack increase in New York.Two things:Why has it got so bad that there is now an underground market for a legal product?Will this stop people from smoking?As I wrote in a previous post, even with high

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-56685241286102043462008-06-04T11:54:00.002-04:002008-12-09T17:31:31.656-05:00

Check out this bill for dinner in Zimbabwe: With inflation at 1,033.5% in Zimbabwe, this meal came out to a thrifty $2.12HT: Freakonomics

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-7125463548834650982008-06-01T10:36:00.004-04:002008-12-09T17:31:31.948-05:00

Why are we after those evil US oil companies when the real culprits are nationalized oil companies?(HT: Captain Capitalism)

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-86563858751117162112008-05-27T11:38:00.002-04:002008-05-27T11:38:38.325-04:00

If you want to know where your tax dollars are going, you can head over to USAspending.gov. You can sort by state, congressional district, or even by the top government contractors.GW is on the list for Top 10 recipients for federal $s in the District with $79,047,865.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-489189251620007792008-05-23T08:53:00.001-04:002008-05-23T08:53:57.314-04:00

Seems Maxine Waters thinks its a good idea...

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-92019747206087853732008-05-18T19:03:00.001-04:002008-05-18T19:03:38.149-04:00

Jeff Dircksen over at NTU has a pretty telling blog post:According to AP: "House Democrats are proposing a tax surcharge on millionaires to pay for a big increase in education benefits for veterans of the war in Iraq, lawmakers said Tuesday."I like this comment: "What we're talking about is a one-half percent income tax surcharge on incomes above $1 million," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., a leader

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-26594832904341458002008-05-18T17:12:00.004-04:002008-12-09T17:31:32.093-05:00

Vikki Reyes has had it with Locke High, the school her daughters attend in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. She walked in on class one day and recalls “the place was just like a zoo!” Students had taken control, while the teacher sat quietly with a book. Frank Wells has also had it with Locke High. When he became principal he says gangs ruled the campus. He tried to turn things around but

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-56269138170229427362008-05-14T14:33:00.000-04:002008-05-14T14:34:00.203-04:00

Knowing the tastes of Wisconsinites quite well, I highly doubt this tax will pass.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-75522947289677094522008-05-08T13:52:00.001-04:002008-05-08T13:52:49.214-04:00

FT - Farmers in the Indian state of Rajasthan are rediscovering the humble camel. As the cost of running gas-guzzling tractors soars, even-toed ungulates are making a comeback, raising hopes that a fall in the population of the desert state’s signature animal can be reversed.“It’s excellent for the camel population if the price of oil continues to go up because demand for camels will also go up,”

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-89106852246251797322008-05-01T13:28:00.002-04:002008-05-01T13:35:09.836-04:00

Regardless of the current economic condition, it seems nothing can deter fans from enjoying sports!Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. So, oddly enough, is attendance at Major League Baseball games. MLB officials say attendance is 2.6 percent ahead of record-breaking figures from last season, when the 30 teams raked in more than $6 billion. The NBA and the NFL also say they see no signs that

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-92001703382764657052008-04-29T10:54:00.001-04:002008-04-29T10:54:58.142-04:00

Thomas Sowell presents a three part series on the economics of college:Part 1: How many people would go to college if they had to pay the real cost of all the resources taken from other parts of the economy?Part 2: What if instead of taxpayers subsidizing education, college students sign enforceable contracts by which lenders would pay their college or university expenses in exchange for a given

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-37192846605245958102008-04-18T17:24:00.001-04:002008-04-18T17:24:12.556-04:00

So I happened to be watching the Democratic debate the other night and I saw this exchange live. I've gotta hand it to Charlie Gibson for actually pointing out what the Laffer Curve shows which is government revenue can increase if you lower taxes. Obama doesn't seem to have heard of the Laffer Curve and ends up changing the subject and starts attacking those much maligned hedge fund managers.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-72747434354997097122008-04-18T16:36:00.002-04:002008-04-18T16:37:15.820-04:00

High School team scores 66 runs in 2 innings.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-76044183014245929492008-04-16T12:04:00.001-04:002008-04-16T12:04:36.544-04:00

Tax Day came and went and now all I can think about it tax REFORM

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-15520606510840004712008-04-14T21:36:00.006-04:002008-04-21T14:10:37.787-04:00

Why is it that Wisconsin's recent increase in the cigarette tax was met with revenue shorter than projected? Is it simply a product of people suddenly quitting due to the $1 increase? Or is it Economics 101? I think it's Econ 101: If you tax something, you get less of it.If a state raises taxes on cigarettes, smokers have three options. One, to man up and pay the premium prices. Two, to quit

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-292355077289942982008-04-13T12:35:00.003-04:002008-12-09T17:31:32.327-05:00

(HT: Carpe Diem)

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-61788531832544266722008-04-09T21:14:00.000-04:002008-04-09T21:15:12.832-04:00

USA Today's editorial board has a great piece on why Congress should pass the free trade agreement with Columbia. Here are a few reasons why:Colombia would get nothing from it other than the permanent extension of the status quo. That's because most of its products already come into this country duty-free thanks to a decision two decades ago to promote legitimate businesses in an Andean region

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-68457480442834742692008-04-08T14:08:00.000-04:002008-04-08T14:09:21.208-04:00

A cheesy song, but I love it every year:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-89115803971931391122008-04-08T10:14:00.001-04:002008-04-08T10:14:48.646-04:00

Uh, It seems like American Airlines didn't get the memo that the USSR hasn't existed in 17 years. You also have the choice of flying to many non-existent hot spots such as Yugoslavia and Serbia and Motenegro. Unfortunately, Kosovo does not get recognition from American Airlines.(HT: Freakonomics Blog)

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-86617596233346440392008-03-27T10:45:00.001-04:002008-03-27T16:49:42.840-04:00

But I thought since I believe in the free market I was greedy? Although liberal families' incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227). Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood. Residents of the states that

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-61832435455973591112008-03-23T00:23:00.000-04:002008-03-23T00:24:28.790-04:00

Many people today are griping over the economic downturn while completely disregarding all the luxuries we now consider necessities in everyday life. Here is a great opinion piece by Steve Moore that puts things back in perspective:A few weeks ago I gave a talk on the state of the economy to a group of college students -- almost all Barack Obama enthusiasts -- who were griping about how downright

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-75826179545565880552008-03-17T13:47:00.002-04:002008-03-17T13:50:44.602-04:00

Amsterdam - The U.S. dollar's value is dropping so fast against the euro that small currency outlets in Amsterdam are turning away tourists seeking to sell their dollars for local money while on vacation in the Netherlands. "Our dollar is worth maybe zero over here," said Mary Kelly, an American tourist from Indianapolis, Indiana, in front of the

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-72629820085024510222008-03-14T13:29:00.001-04:002008-03-17T13:47:36.722-04:00

So why aren’t jobs rapidly exiting Manhattan and Menlo Park? The reason is that expensive labor is once again extremely cheap. Google presently has 17,000 employees, but its profits per employee are $247,000. Goldman Sachs has roughly 30,000 highly paid workers, but with profits of $16 billion last year, profits per employee worked out to $530,000. Judging by the high level of productivity on the

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-28520884319184854072008-03-11T18:01:00.000-04:002008-03-11T18:02:22.183-04:00

The Onion News Network has a wonderful tale about outsourced childcare:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-78724564338890512542008-03-10T22:00:00.001-04:002008-03-10T22:00:43.296-04:00

On one side of the Atlantic Ocean, BMW says it will cut 7.5 percent of its work force over two years. On this side of the water, the company says it plans to increase production by more than 50 percent by 2012."This is completely driven by the plunge in the dollar," said Greg Gardner with Oliver Wyman, publisher of the Harbour Report on automotive manufacturing activity. "It is untenable to

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-49002945638894971762008-03-07T14:50:00.001-05:002008-03-07T14:50:09.092-05:00

The IRS will soon start sending letters to taxpayers that their rebate check is almost in the mail. The cost: $42 million. I already know the federal government is anything but frugal, but why is this even remotely necessary!?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-66548664385932302342008-03-07T13:56:00.000-05:002008-03-07T13:57:09.223-05:00

You better not die in this town in FranceThe mayor of a village in southwest France has threatened residents with severe punishment if they die, because there is no room left in the overcrowded cemetery to bury them.In an ordinance posted in the council offices, Mayor Gerard Lalanne told the 260 residents of the village of Sarpourenx that "all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-76698236885536921472008-03-06T10:10:00.004-05:002008-12-09T17:31:32.628-05:00

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-84539420964342051252008-03-03T11:49:00.001-05:002008-12-09T17:31:32.746-05:00

(HT: Carpe Diem)If NAFTA is so terrible, why is it that more U.S. jobs have been created in the 14-year period after NAFTA was passed than in the 14-year period before NAFTA?There is a great editorial in the WSJ comparing the effects of NAFTA on Texas & Ohio.Texas has gained 36,000 manufacturing jobs since 2004 and has ranked as the nation's top exporting state for six years in a row. Its $168

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-26486642065557104432008-02-26T12:46:00.001-05:002008-02-26T12:46:20.170-05:00

Rich Lowry wrote a great article debunking the rhetoric Obama has been using the past few weeks criticizing NAFTA.For Barack Obama, hope can triumph over anything, except for open trade with a neighboring country with an economy 1/20th the size of ours. Then, all is despair. Obama's culprit is Mexico, our third-largest trading partner. It is trade deals like NAFTA -- the 1993 accord eliminating

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-50828899787067947032008-02-25T16:43:00.003-05:002008-02-25T16:48:32.437-05:00

An interesting article discusses the possibility of globalization in hockey. The league is kicking around the idea of expanding the league to include teams in Europe. Frankly, I think hockey is one of the few sports that a global league could work. Since the sport is widely popular throughout Europe, there would not be an extreme disparity between the European teams and the already established

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-76482313666019956622008-02-23T00:18:00.003-05:002008-02-23T00:23:54.054-05:00

From the WSJ:In 1962, Mr. Castro lost a round of golf to Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who had been a caddy in his Argentine hometown before he became a guerrilla icon. Mr. Castro's defeat may have had disastrous consequences for the sport. He had one Havana golf course turned into a military school, another into an art school. A journalist who wrote about the defeat of Cuba's Maximum Leader, who was a

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-62104191818246881122008-02-22T15:35:00.001-05:002008-02-22T15:35:20.849-05:00

Reuters: Liquor makers in central China's Henan province are planning a legal challenge to fight a ban on Communist Party officials and civil servants drinking alcohol at lunch during work days, state media said on Wednesday.Local restaurants are complaining they have taken a hit in terms of fewer lunch customers and lower revenues from not selling as much alcohol, the report said."Drinking is a

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-10024497907534691462008-02-16T01:22:00.002-05:002008-02-16T01:24:35.246-05:00

From the WSJ:Are sports-franchise prices headed for a tumble? Boom-time euphoria has vanished from the stock and real-estate markets. But the cost of acquiring a sports team keeps climbing in the face of a weakening economy, preserving what may be one of the last asset bubbles in North America.Profitable sports franchises may be priced at 20 times annual cash flow, at least double the valuation

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-26448616360720237232008-02-15T00:25:00.000-05:002008-02-15T00:26:27.705-05:00

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-11898694191724903142008-02-12T17:53:00.001-05:002008-02-12T17:53:57.872-05:00

A man from my neck of the woods in San Diego taught for 17 years without being able to read, write or spell. Yikes!

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-39821947648311006202008-02-11T16:45:00.000-05:002008-02-11T16:46:01.710-05:00

It costs 2 cents to make a penny and a dime to make a nickel. Is it still worth it?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-42583029968450701902008-02-10T15:10:00.000-05:002008-02-10T15:19:50.293-05:00

New York Times:Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fuels are taken into account, two studies being published Thursday have concluded. The benefits of biofuels have come under increasing attack in recent months, as scientists took a closer look at the global environmental cost of their

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-35854719993101942022008-02-07T00:54:00.001-05:002008-02-07T01:03:25.721-05:00

From BusinessWeek:Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open its first in-store medical clinics under its own brand name after leasing space in dozens of stores to outside companies that operate the quick-service health stops.That number is expected to increase dramatically, as chains like Wal-Mart, CVS Corp., Target Corp. and Walgreen Co. partner with mini-clinic providers like RediClinic and MinuteClinic

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-61802714864447571292008-02-07T00:44:00.001-05:002008-02-07T00:52:32.302-05:00

From the AP:Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, researchers reported Monday. It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception that preventing obesity would save governments millions of dollars.The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-55715983585469587832008-02-04T12:25:00.000-05:002008-02-07T01:03:48.060-05:00

Newsweek: To avoid drilling for oil in ANWR's moonscape, the planet savers evidently prefer destroying forests, even though they absorb greenhouse gases. Will ethanol prevent more carbon-dioxide emissions than would have been absorbed by the trees cut down to clear land for the production of crops for ethanol? Be that as it may, governments mandating the use of biofuels are one reason for the

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-8356898343906003542008-02-04T11:33:00.000-05:002008-02-04T11:34:32.018-05:00

Interesting video about the new ways to advertise during the Superbowl.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-9129783551739613762008-02-04T11:23:00.000-05:002008-12-09T17:31:33.122-05:00

With all the criticism over excessive CEO salary, where is the similar outrage over highly paid atheletes? John Edwards talked about two Americas, the haves and the have-nots, and he always mentioned the big corporations or the big insurance companies as the culprits. Yet, most atheletes make FAR more in annual salary and endorsements than the top CEOs in the country. If there truly is a war to

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-22593695511569369842008-02-01T17:58:00.000-05:002008-02-01T18:00:38.693-05:00

Wall Street Journal has a sweet interactive map of some of the soveriegn wealth funds out there.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-57483293017664838102008-02-01T11:35:00.000-05:002008-02-01T11:38:37.294-05:00

Friedman 1 Hippie 0Friedman 2 Same Hippie 0

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-60344703363068886552008-01-31T23:37:00.000-05:002008-02-01T00:26:05.389-05:00

BusinessWire.com: So here is further proof the free market health care movement is growing. Carol.com is an online shopping mall for health care in the Minneapolis area. Customers can go online and compare all of the treatment offers in their area.This is a great start to bringing competition to health care. Customers no longer have to grudgingly accept the prices charged by their private

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-8993723617169757602008-01-31T09:40:00.000-05:002008-01-31T09:43:58.701-05:00

John Tamny has a great article about the myths of the trade deficit:To the trade-deficit worriers in our midst, the individual freedom we’re all afforded to purchase what we want while ignoring country origin foretells a dark future owing to our propensity to buy things not produced within these borders. The infinite individual decisions that constitute total U.S. consumption have for centuries

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-37318455107411384972008-01-29T10:43:00.000-05:002008-01-29T10:45:21.328-05:00

ESPN: Tickets going for $4,227. Hotel rooms going for $3000 a night. Recession? What recession?

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-41740709787198058802008-01-29T10:18:00.000-05:002008-01-29T10:41:25.111-05:00

Populism is rampant in this election year, from mostly all the Democratic candidates and including Mike Huckabee on the Republican side. The search for profits is not inherently evil, in fact, it is through the search of profits that we as consumers win. John Hood writes about it here:But profits aren't evil, and the search for profit is one of the most productive of human activities. It feeds

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-21546156127949401582008-01-24T12:11:00.000-05:002008-01-24T12:16:42.533-05:00

What Sets Wages? - Russell Roberts, Cafe HayekThe Foolishness of Economic Stimulus - Don Bodreaux, CS Monitor

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-28171858548852211392008-01-22T13:57:00.000-05:002008-01-22T14:04:13.793-05:00

It seems that retail health care is not only becoming a force in reducing costs, but also in the quality of service. The Boston Globe has an article about the quality of in-store clinics and how they are far superior in the quality of their treatment than a traditional doctor's office.The most recent report card from the group, based on data from 2006, awarded MinuteClinic the highest marks in

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-84721325154465408642008-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:002008-01-22T09:47:29.238-05:00

Subprime Bailout - Walter Williams, TownhallOpportunity Knocks for Value Investors - William Dunn, RCMBush Stimulus Plan Won't Work - John Berlau, OpenMarketMight Google Buy the New York Times? - John Ellis, RCM

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-47146112632893343402008-01-22T09:22:00.000-05:002008-01-22T09:26:30.305-05:00

Human Events has a comparison of quotes between the two. Here are a couple of my favorites from Mr. Friedman:On Health Care:"It is taken for granted that workers should receive their pay partly in kind, in the form of medical care provided by the employer. How come? Why single out medical care? Surely food is no less essential to life than medical care. Why is it not at least as logical for

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-15637967299830614192008-01-22T09:01:00.000-05:002008-01-22T09:03:57.402-05:00

The Fed decided to cut interest rates .75 basis points. It will be interesting to see this effect, and whether this cut was too late. The futures market has gained a little since the announcement, but is still down about 150 points.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-32028390065061314202008-01-18T14:31:00.000-05:002008-01-18T15:13:04.271-05:00

Here's an editorial from the Wall Street Journal that I found a very interesting read. When you sell a stock, you have to pay a capital gains tax if the stock's value is higher than when you bought it However, how much "higher" is that actual stock?Assume you purchased a common stock in a company in 1984 for $100 a share and sold it in 2007 for $200 a share. Have you received any "income" from

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-76228614646135326382008-01-18T11:54:00.000-05:002008-01-18T12:04:21.763-05:00

It may be from 1924, but it's still music to my ears:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-72961762375019601452008-01-18T11:35:00.000-05:002008-01-18T11:47:26.603-05:00

The Science of a Stimulus - Russ Roberts, Cafe HayekBack to the '70s? - Larry Kudlow, Money Politic$The Invasion of the Soveriegn Wealth Funds - The EconomistThe Benefits of Immigration - Don Boudreaux, Cafe HayekWe're All Keynesians Now - WSJ Editorial

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-13050396944730656992008-01-17T16:29:00.000-05:002008-01-17T16:36:07.099-05:00

Milton Friedman describes how to spend money:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-58670782473547561622008-01-17T13:39:00.000-05:002008-01-17T13:43:40.076-05:00

Forbes - It seems Antigua is making great progress to end the ridiculous United States ban on internet gambling. The WTO already sided with Antigua on their pursuit of punishing U.S. services with sanctions and now it seems that the United States will finally sit down with the tiny island nation to discuss the ban.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-49994062956843399902008-01-17T12:44:00.001-05:002008-01-17T12:45:16.750-05:00

Yes He Was.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-46475509516119320452008-01-17T11:12:00.000-05:002008-12-09T17:31:33.584-05:00

Ferrari introduced an ethanol powered car on Monday in Detroit. The sports car runs on E85, which is composed of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. A study done at the University of Arkansas shows that while E-85 can produce more horsepower, it is far less efficient than simple 87 octane gasonline: Implications/Future Plans The data indicated that E-85 has more horsepower generating potential than 87

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-69852845159618685492008-01-17T09:25:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:28:47.116-05:00

To curb inflation and to end a cash shortage, the government of Zimbabwe issued new bank notes, including Z$5,000,000 and Z$10,000,000.

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-79881735438802385382008-01-17T07:21:00.001-05:002008-01-17T11:29:59.830-05:00

There is a Free Lunch - Richard Rahn, Washington TimesRepublicans & Their Tax Plans - WSJ EditorialSen. Tom Coburn Endorses McCain - RCP BlogMake it Flake - Pat Toomey, National ReviewForeign Investment & Trade Works Both Ways - Bret Swanson, PFFIs Berkshire Hathaway Cheap at $126,400 a share? (Video) - CNBC

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-92081534353538620012008-01-16T19:16:00.000-05:002008-01-17T09:36:56.292-05:00

When most people think about free trade, the thought of jobs being shipped overseas often is one of the first things that pops into your head. However, many do not appreciate the benefits of free trade: lower prices, a more diverse marketplace, raising the standard of living in third world countries, etc. Here's an op-ed by Steven Landsburg from the New York Times:Some people suggest, however,

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-63885901848067741242008-01-16T18:30:00.000-05:002008-01-16T18:35:03.925-05:00

Free Market Conservatism is often criticized for being cold-hearted and focused too much on greed. Milton Friedman would disagree:

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402179049418337679.post-26610012023351300862008-01-16T18:13:00.000-05:002008-01-16T18:27:36.191-05:00

This is something that Professor Mark Perry over at Carpe Diem has been blogging about for a while and I had to begin with it. With the recent talk about a mandated government health care program, few talk about the benefits of deregulating health care and allowing competition. CVS and Walgreens have begun to put small clinics in their stores to diagnose and treat minor health care issues (Boston

JJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09232399012720475783noreply@blogger.com0