It's the data mining, baby

This is a funny and technically impressive story.

I am not sure why Chris Blattman finds it irritating. They are helping to bring together customers with products that are likely to be of interest to them.

Assorted links

1. A sad piece on the de facto privatization of household security in Detroit.

2. The amazing Danish sperm bike.

3. On Ostalgie (which is, of all things, nostalgia for the German Democratic Republic).

4. Nothing to cut in Medicare ... no sir ... not a bit.

5.The Export-Import bank is pure and simple corporate pork. Rather than expanding its mission it should be zeroed out.

Hat tips on #2 to both (!) Lars Skipper and Charlie Brown

Roy model = Emerson model?

"There is no special adaptation or universal applicability in men, but each has his special talent, and the mastery of successful men consists in adroitly keeping themselves where and when that turn shall be oftenest to be practiced."

From Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay entitled "Experience"

LA and the adult film industry

Reason provides a fine rant about the recent decision by the city of Los Angeles to require male adult film actors to wear condoms while on the job.

Gulliver on crying babies

The Economist's travel blog considers the important question of crying babies on planes. Gulliver suggests just putting up with it, but surely we can do better than that with a particularly unpleasant, and presently unpriced (other than the "look" from nearby passengers), negative externality.

The stand-up economist from this year's American Economic Association meetings. Warning: lots of s-bombs.

Via: Greg Mankiw

Assorted links

1. Gentrification continues in Hyde Park. It's not like the old days when we were constantly dodging small arms fire.

2. Maybe collaborative workplaces are not a panacea ...

3. Scary face pillows.

4. James Q. Wilson on inequality and the rich

5. Don't drink and drive .. your zamboni.