Federal Budget Mess

This graph is Fascinating!! Click on View the Graph.

Thanks to Frederic Sautet

Chavez vs. the UN

In his speech to the UN, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called the UN "antidemocratic". It reminds me of the old adage "takes one to know one".

One other quick thought: What is the U.S. so afraid of letting Venezuela sit on the Security Council?? How about trying some dialogue instead of shutting people it doesn't like out of the conversation?

How economists see the world

Watch this.

CPI

From Russell Roberts

"Again, I challenge the pessimists, the doom-and-gloomers who accept the wage data as indicating that for 30 years, the average American has made no progress. Either our economic system is broken or are data collection system is broken. There is dramatic evidence that the data collection system is unable to cope with the speed of change in the US economy. Why do you believe instead that it is the economic system that is broken? Where is your evidence?"

Peace through trade

This article from the BBC talks about how trade brought peace to Europe, yet there is no mention of those who champion these ideas, namely the Austrians.

Sorry for the pause

So I am confused...why did ABC use Tom Petty for the NBA finals and NBC use Nelly for Wimbledon???

Damn You Casey

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 55% Conservative, 45% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Ethics: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Thesis II

Successfully defended my thesis. I will write more later...now I am going to sleep.

I'm not usually into this...

I am curious:

Listen to this and then comment of what it makes you think of.

Really listen to it...sit down close your eyes and listen to it from beginning to end.

For me it was a time in my life that I loved. It makes me think of Eric and Kathy in NYC, of Sara, of smoky nights at the Ottobar, of hanging out with Pete at the Grind...my late 20s was such a great time in my life. I am happy to have such good memories.

Wow

Thesis is done...defense on Friday.

Mike

Mike died.

He was as much of Fells Point as anything else. We had some really interesting conversations. He seemed like he was getting much worse the past year or two but I am not sure we could do much for him. I will miss him and hope he has found peace.

Shaving, Sabres, Tim Russert

In homage to playoff hockey I am not shaving until my exams are over. I am graduating May 25 and in order to combat senioritis I decided not to shave until I am done. In part this was also done as a measure of solidarity with the Buffalo Sabres as they try to bring home the Stanley Cup; not shaving until elimination a tradtion as old as the NHL.

Tim Russert brought out a Sabres jersey on Meet the Press last week, but sadly did not even put it on. Come on Tim! What kind of real fan are you???

The Sabres, improbably, wiped the Senators in Ottawa last night in a shootout 7-6. Connolly scored with 10 seconds left to tie it and Drury scored 18 seconds into overtime to win it! Amazing. Go Sabres!!!

Bald Eagle Cam

http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/

Beautiful

My favorite city in the world

Democracy: Is it good?

Bryan Caplan, George Mason professor of economics, has a new book coming out. The book addresses voter irrationality in democracies. I give you a quote:

“Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom” -FA Hayek

Let me know what you think about this excerpt.