Economics–It Isn’t Called the Dismal Science for No Reason

Forbes has a good article on why America doesn’t need monetary policy, or  economists. More damage has probably been done to our economy and our markets by attempts to centrally plan our economy than could ever be done by leaving markets to their own devices. From the article:

Let’s be blunt. Whatever economics is, it is not a science. Unlike physicists, who can predict an asteroid’s closest approach to earth within a few miles when it is still 100 million miles out in space, economists can’t accurately predict this quarter’s GDP. Indeed, they are still arguing among themselves about what “really” happened 83 years ago.

In light of the economics profession’s track record, it is hilarious to hear pundits and politicians say things like, “Most economists agree…” as if this mattered.

Read the whole thing.

Texting and Driving–Lives Can Be Changed Forever, Or Ended “From One Second to the Next”

I’ve never understood why people text one another rather than talk. It seems to be a pretty that having a 5-10 minute conversation via text is a pretty inefficient way to have a 30 second conversation.  This video, via Slate, is a very powerful statement on the hazards of texting and driving. Lives can be devastated, or gone, in the blink of an eye due to one person’s inattention to what they should be doing; paying attention to the road. Talking on the phone while driving also increases the hazard, but I think texting is exponentially more dangerous.

If you are in the habit of texting while driving, or you know someone who is, you should watch this and see if you think any text is so urgent as to be worth yours or someone else's life.