Can an “all of the above” energy policy really work?

Bryan from Houston writes: How about some elucidation on what both sides believe in terms of energy policy? Are the two sides really that far apart? Sounds like everybody is advocating the kitchen sink method…drill, nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas/hybrid cars….why doesn’t Congress just do it already? Bryan’s right that both campaigns sometimes sound like [...]

Beware the parachute-industrial complex

Felix Salmon has discovered the Best Academic Paper Ever, “Hazardous journey: Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trials,” by Gordon C. S. Smith and Jill P. Pell. My favorite passage: However sinister doctors may be, there are powers at large that are even more [...]

On the virtues of vegetarian co-ops

A brand-building expert down in Austin named John Moore has belatedly discovered my conversation with former college roommates John Mackey of Whole Foods and Kip Tindell of the Container Store and informed readers of his well-trafficked blog that they’re not allowed to go on vacation until they read it. His timing is a little off–hasn’t [...]

Are the Democratic delegates crazy to think we’re in a depression?

At the Democratic convention last week, James Pethokoukis had some fun asking delegates economic questions: I asked 24 of them whether the economy was in an expansion, a recession, or in a depression. The results are stunning, I think, given that on the same day I took the informal survey, the Commerce Department reported that [...]

Robert Goulet, mustaches, and Curious Capitalist commenters

This blog is all about promoting the careers and extracurricular activities of its regular commenters. So I’m thrilled to pass on the news that regular commenter Mustache Leader is looking for nominees for the first-ever “Robert Goulet Mustached American of the Year Award.” Which should really be the “Robert Goulet Mustachioed American of the Year [...]

All those news stories on the front page of the WSJ are making Joe Nocera sad

Sure, you could have read it here first, more or less, but my friend Joe Nocera’s wistful critique of Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal is still worth a look: Mr. Murdoch believes that the country is yearning for a national conservative daily, so that is where he is taking The Wall Street Journal. He is [...]

First day of school

I have a general rule of not posting photos of my kid online, and I figure I should observe that for his schoolmates too. So enjoy this lovely shot of a bunch of parents’ heads.

The Palin/experience thing, part II

Since writing that last post about how poor a predictor of presidential success political experience seems to be, it has occurred to me that long public service does at least give voters, running mates, etc. the chance to get to know a person. Without that familiarity, of course, you can get some interesting surprises right [...]