Movie: Divergent

Teen romance plus post-apocalypse ruin porn plus science fiction plus pretty people plus cool soundtrack. What's not to like? Well, all the things complained about in the NYT review, which is pretty much on target on the weaknesses.

One more dimension: The theme of both movie and book is individualism. That nets bonus points from me but probably means points off at the NYT.

Recommended if the you give enough bonus points for ruin porn and individualism.

Bonus aside: a key problem facing the director is how to make the "El" (short for "elevated railway") in Chicago look more post-apocalyptic than it already does. This is accomplished by removing most of the seats and adopting a darker color scheme.

Blattman on Crimea

The original post is here and comments plus responses to comments are here.

Good for Chris for speaking up. My own thoughts largely parallel his. A better procedure would have been nice, but the outcome would have been the same. I also agree that spillover effects are likely pretty small.

Big data for undergraduate economics majors

Washington is offering a course that combines "big data" and undergraduate econometrics.

Maybe we should offer something like that here? It would be fun to teach.

Why labor economists dress the way they do ...

Via Quartz, the important news that dressing like a slob can make you seem "wealthier and more authoritative".

Addendum: A very relevant Dilbert, courtesy of public financier Adam Cole.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Today 2013-2014 became the snowiest winter in recorded Ann Arbor history. Whee!

Assorted links

1. Robocop review (humor)

2. How long can the police detain you after a traffic stop? No one seems to quite know. Seems to me it should not be very long at all.

3. Things cars used to have but no longer do. My 1964 Valiant (inherited from my grandmother) had many of these.

4. Guns on campus - a humorous take with which I do not entirely agree.

5. Lose weight by eating only at McDonald's. Take that, Morgan Spurlock!

Hat tip on #1 to Glenn Simon and on #4 to Charlie Brown.

Virginia Postrel on Barbie

Is Lammily really better than Barbie?