Engineer Scott presses the talk button on the Enterprises intercom. “Scott here.”
“We need more knowledge, now Mr Scott.”
“B’ cap’n I’m a naugh sure the engines can take much more of this. I just gave it our last copy of Moby Dick. Th’ internet’s beginning to overheat.”
“Now, Mr Scott.”
Scotty drops his chin to his chest and pushes the big red button. “Aye sir.”
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est
Knowledge is power. – Francis Bacon
There seems to be a great deal of discussion about the troubles in the economy, aka the global economic meltdown. Most feels as though it’s designed to spin perception one way or another. If you haven’t heard about it yet, go back to sleep or watching Fox News, I suspect it will blow over in ten or twenty years.
Where to get more knowledge on the financial meltdown?
One of the best places I’ve found for explaining the crisis and how it came to be is Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life. I’m not a big TAL fan but the last two programs have been outstanding. TAL teamed up with the guys at Planet Money If you don’t have speakers for your computer, get some. Run down to any store selling electronics and buy the cheapest ones you can. I recommend Episode 365, “Another Frightening Show About the Economy” and Episode 366, “A Better Mousetrap 2008.“
One of the blogs I follow is Marginal Revolution where I learned that according to a study by Colorado State University, people with bumper stickers, window decals, or other ‘territorial markers’ drive more aggressively. You can read more about the study online at the American Psychological Association. Anyway back to the financial mess, Marginal Revolution’s Tyler Cowan pointed me to the Times of London’s Top ten blogs to read during the banking crisis.
One last thing
Have you noticed that the commentariat cite the chestnut that the stock market has grown at x% for the last thirty years? That’s because it doesn’t look quite as rosy if one considers the market’s performance since the 1930’s to present.
Nullius in Verba 
I was once stuck in a jam behind a driver who had a sticker ‘I LOVE MY PITBULL’.
I was just idly wondering what sort of man had a sticker like that, when he leapt out and threatened the driver in front of him for some imaginary transgression.
And as for ‘BABY ON BOARD’ – where to begin?
When my son was just a wee one, I owned a ’74 Honda Civic, which looked like a pregnant roller skate when compared to the oil tankers on wheels of the 1980’s. I wondered if a Baby on Board sign would keep drivers off my car’s bumper.
I bought a larger car to carry all the stuff needed for a baby.