California is becoming more and more like a third-world country. But the idiot voters just keep voting for more of it.
Category Archives: Economics
Dysfunctional Education
Yes, the maleducational system, from K through grad school, is the biggest danger to the Republic. It’s been almost forty years since that report that said that if a foreign nation had imposed it on us, it would be considered an act of war. It’s only gotten worse.
China
How it “woke” America.
Airline Fare Strategy
I’ve been at a conference for the past few days, sans computer, so light posting. Anyway, I’m flying back from DC tomorrow to LA, with a non-stop flight scheduled for 5:30 PM, because I’d thought I’d have some meetings set up tomorrow, but it turns out that I have no reason to stick around, so I’d like to get out earlier.
So there’s a 7:20 AM flight, which I’ve put myself on standby for. But if I miss it, despite the fact that there are many routes from DCA to LAX all day, I won’t be able to go standby on them, because they aren’t non-stops. If I want to take a different route to LA, I have to pay the difference in ticket price plus a change fee (which is up to a couple hundred bucks).
My question is, what is the thinking behind this policy? An airline seat is a depreciating asset, and to me it would make sense to free to up later in the day by offering someone an earlier ticket, if there’s room on the flight. Why in the world would you care if they flew on the exact route that their original ticket was for, as long as you freed up the seat and didn’t have to bump anyone else?
So, since I’m not going to pay the penalty for changing route, if I miss the flight, I have to wait for the next one (which means I’ll leave my stuff somewhere and do something in town, and come back for my scheduled flight).
Space-Policy Dilemma
It’s a personal one. I’m accepted to give a brief talk on space property rights at the IAC in three weeks. But media can’t give talks, and registration will be about $1500. Not sure I can justify that.
Elon Musk
I watched the webcast last night, but I was tired from building a fence, and then I had an early flight to DC this morning.
[Tuesday-afternoon update]
Thoughts from Bob Zimmerman on Elon’s design philosophy.
Space Nuclear Reactors
I’m not sure this is as big a proliferation concern as some say, but I have no idea where they get this “20% of all launches have failures” thing. That’s not true in general, and its far from true for U.S. systems.
Hospital Emergency Rooms
If only there were some sort of field of study that could have predicted this.
Greta Thunberg
Climate Hysteria
…is harming our kids.
Yes, she should be in school, but not in a school that has deranged her to this degree. And not only are not “all” of us coming to her for hope, but I doubt that many are. This is another example of government schools being a vicious form of child abuse.
[Mid-morning update]
An unrolled Twitter thread from a mother with an autistic child on why what her handlers are doing to her is so cruel and abusive.
[Update early afternoon]
She hasn’t cured her mental issues; she’s simply found a different outlet for them. But her adult enablers are doing her no favors.
[Update a few minutes later]
Fox News cuts ties with Michael Knowles over calling Thunberg “mentally ill.”
I saw that segment, and the outrage (probably faux) from the Democrat. Well, he wasn’t wrong; she is clearly having problems, and shouldn’t be used as a prop for socialism.
[Update a few minutes later]
The apotheosis of Saint Greta.
I’m glad Trump didn’t bow to her. I wouldn’t have, either.
[Update a while later]
The media is very protective of teenagers, unless they’re wearing MAGA hats.
[Wednesday-morning update]
Experts agree that restructuring the global economy is the best way to treat a child’s anxiety.