Eyewitness testimony is UNreliable
NPR: "Reliability Of Eyewitness Testimony Under Scrutiny":
Yet more evidence of the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. It turns out that, contrary to the opinion of the Supreme Court, witness certainty can be a very good indicator of the unreliability of an individuals eyewitness testimony.
Just how aware are you?
More on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony
Damn that economy!
What seems to be the biggest issue of the day? First Switzerland showed us that having a strong currency can actually make you quite weak. Paul Krugman complained about the changing political discussion in Washington. David Brooks challenged some uses government spending meant to "fix the economy." Finally, I took a look at a few articles dealing with the economic plans of both Obama and Romney.
NPR: "Switzerland: Too Strong For Its Own Good":
Conservatives often speak of the evils of inflation, mainly accusing inflation of destroying people's savings. However, there is another side to inflation. Harvard Economist Ken Rogoff has previously pointed out that inflation can ease the burden of household debt, a major factor in our current recession/contraction. Now Switzerland is showing the world that a strong currency can also hurt a country by reducing demand for exports. In the US this would surely exacerbate our already large trade deficit as well as reduce demand for US products overseas, which is currently around one tenth of our GDP (exports are nearly half of Swiss GDP).
Skeptoid: "Wi-Fi, Smart Meters, and Other Radio Bogeymen":
Brian Dunning takes on the claim that radio waves can be harmful. As the World Health Organization classifies them, one should take an equal amount of precaution with coffee and the earth's gravitational field (good luck on that one!)
Paul Krugman: "The Fatal Distraction":
Krugman makes the case he's been making on his blog for quite some time, only now in a concise manner in an op-ed. The focus on Austerity (in the short term) is demonstrably crippling the economy. Conservative theories about regulation and tax fears are unfounded. Consumer demand is down and savings are up. How much more evidence to they need?
Krugman points out where he thinks the stimulus was inadequate, also noting the dramatic increase in consumer savings.
Krugman also shows that there is currently a de facto policy of austerity.
David Brooks "Where The Jobs Aren't":
David Brooks challenges the perceived efficiency of the government attempting to directly create private sector jobs. I do not agree with much of what he says. However it is an interesting read.
On the success of renewable energy
On the calculations of cost per job analysis of government spending on jobs
On The effectiveness of capital gains taxes
The overall effectiveness of government spending
Eric Levine: "Obama versus Romney on Jobs":
"Recently, both Obama and Romney have basically given what may turn out to be competing economic plans in 2012 (As of the date of this post, I have yet to see a serious economic plan from Rick Perry). Obama released his plan during a speech on Thursday night (9-8-11). Mitt Romney has already released his plan on his website. This post is a collection of a few articles on those plans."
Fodder for climate skeptics
Of course I cannot go a week without posting at least a few articles on climate change. NASA explained a dip in sea level rise that will surely show up on a few climate skeptic blogs. I summarized the ongoing controversy over the Spencer paper. Finally, Skeptical Science released a booklet detailing an often uncovered effect of climate change.
NASA: "NASA Satellites Detect Pothole on Road to Higher Seas":
NASA comments on the recent temporary decrease in global sea levels. It is due to La Nina, not due to the "end of global warming."
"while 2010 began with a sizable El Niño, by year's end, it was replaced by one of the strongest La Niñas in recent memory. This sudden shift in the Pacific changed rainfall patterns all across the globe... So where does all that extra water in Brazil and Australia come from? You guessed it--the ocean... [Sea] level drops such as this one cannot last, and over the long-run, the trend remains solidly up."Skeptical science also explains the situation.
Eric Levine: "Climate Change "Skeptics" Climax Too Early... Again":
"Yet another story of climate change "skeptics" getting excited about something that turns out to be nothing. Here is a summary of the latest story in the ongoing novel of climate-change-skeptic-sensationalism..."Skeptical Science: "OA not OK: Booklet available":
With all the media attention given to global warming, we often forget that more dangers exist from climate change other than just rising temperatures.
"In July and August 2011 we posted a long series to introduce the chemistry of ocean acidification. We have lightly edited and compiled the posts into a booklet."
Political differences abound
Politics! Dear Gawd when will it stop! Ezra Klein took a look at a possible case of Republican hypocrisy. Gregory Mankiw cleared up a liberal misconception about taxes and the rich. I reviewed Paul Krugman's answer to Barry Goldwater's book. Politifact took a look at tax loopholes for outsourcing. Finally, Jed Graham covered an "ingenious" plan to fix Social Security.
Ezra Klein: "Why did the GOP turn against stimulus? Ask a psychologist.":
"The bottom line is this: Until quite recently, both parties supported the idea that you combat bad economies with stimulus spending. Now, during an extremely bad economy, the Republican Party has completely abandoned that position."
Greg Mankiw: "Fair Taxes? Depends What You Mean by ‘Fair’ ": Harvard Economist Greg Mankiw points out that, although some billionaires like Warren Buffet can write their way out of a hefty dose of taxes, most millionaires still pay a larger percentage of their incomes in taxes (30%+) than do most Americans. Whether or not this is fair is mostly a philosophical question. Politifact also points out that the "Warren Buffet" phenomena only really applies to the "mega rich." The highest income earners still pay the lion's share of taxes. David Frum also points out that a much better "sacrifice" for the rich to make would be supporting inflation as a method to help the economy recover.
Eric Levine: "Book Review: Krugman's Rallying Cry to Liberals":
I just finished Paul Krugman's 2007 book, The Conscience of a Liberal. I actually liked this book much more than I initially expected. It is a very entertaining and mostly easy read (I actually listened to the audible audio book). Paul Krugman details America's transition from the "Long Gilded Age" (pre-New Deal) to the "Great Contraction" (post New Deal til 1980s) when America's income distribution became more egalitarian. He then details the switch back, starting in the late 1970s, when the top income earners saw large gains in real income while mid and lower income earners saw only modest gains, if any at all. This was due primarily to the growth of "Movement Conservatism." He then makes the case that it is now (back in 2007) possible to once again to work towards closing the income gap.
Politifact: "Did Republicans oppose closing corporate tax loopholes for outsourcing?":
"The SEIU is correct that Republicans did fight against Democratic plans to close tax loopholes on multinational corporations.... The link between the multinationals' tax status and their outsourcing of jobs is not direct, and that's an important distinction."
Jed Graham: "AARP Sees ‘A Better Way To Approach (Social Security) Benefit Changes’":
The AARP has long been thought of as the group that opposes practically every proposed solution to the problems of Social Security. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not want any changes to hit current retirees. It is also due to the fact that most of these plans also "cut the safety net where it needs to be strongest — in very old age." However, John Rother of the AARP has now embraced a plan that should help fix the problems with social security, as well as increase worker efficiency.
Can they really do that?!
So long as they don't sell it for money..
kottke: "A Super Mario Bros version of Portal?!":
Yes, this is an actual game being developed - it is not a mod of any existing one.
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