13 | January | 2013

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Controversy: Two spaces or one space between sentences?

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 11:47 pm

According to this Slate article “Space Invaders: Why you should never, ever use two spaces after a period“: Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong. More from the article: Ilene Strizver, who runs a … read more >

Carpe Diem

Top ten trends to watch in ﬁnance for 2013: No. 1 is the ‘revenge of John Bogle’ and the ‘ETFication’ of investing

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 11:31 pm

Barry Rithholz in today’s Washington Post Business Section: From my perspective, these are the more significant trends that will probably continue into 2013: 1. ETFs are eating everything. The revenge of John Bogle continues apace. As investors figure out that … read more >

Carpe Diem

More year-end real estate sales reports point to recovery

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 5:32 pm

1. Memphis home sales increased 34% in December, while the average price fell 1.3%, resulting in a 32% increase in housing sales volume in 2012 compared to the previous year. 2. Des Moines home sales increased 3.5% in December, while … read more >

Carpe Diem

Cheap energy today: The best friend and salvation of the poor

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 4:10 pm

”Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the US price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.” ~Stephen Chu, US Secretary of Energy “Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” ~President Barack Hussein … read more >

Carpe Diem

Markets in everything: robot snowplow

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 3:42 pm

HT: W.E. Heasley

Economics

The Constitutional Option: If 14th amendment were used to bypass debt ceiling, would anyone buy US debt?

Peter J. Wallison | January 13, 2013, 2:47 pm

As we approach another debt limit deadline, the idea that the president should use language of the 14th amendment (“the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, . . . shall not be questioned”) to … read more >

Carpe Diem

Sunday morning links

Mark J. Perry | January 13, 2013, 11:45 am

1. Intrade Odds: Lincoln to win best picture (80%), best director (77%), best actor (90%); Lance Armstrong to confess (84.5)%). 2. A successful energy-based anti-poverty/economic stimulus program in Texas: The Eagle Ford Shale is turning out to be more than … read more >

Hindsight Isn’t 20/20
Many lessons should be drawn from the U.S. experience in Iraq. Unfortunately, we’re not learning what we should. […]
The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]