Certainly. I'm reluctant to pimp websites here in the Reader, but we'll give this a shot and hope that the powers at be here understand that it's educational.
http://www.econtalk.org/
I would normally rather read an interview than to listen to one, but you know, people seem to like this format. If you scroll down to the August 9th interview with Nobel Prize winning physicist Robert Laughlin, you'll find some enlightning references to energy and waste versus cost and other economic factors.
This site is absolutely free and not for profit. You will find a few interviews with Nassim Taleb (author of The Black Swan), an interesting and controversial fellow. The best discussion in my opinion is from 1-12-09 with Steve Fazzari involving Keynesian theory and Roberts attempting to contrast it with Hayekian thoughts on economics. Way back in 2006 there are even a couple of podcasts interviewing Milton Friedman. Archives are here:
http://www.econtalk.org/archives.html
Enjoy. — September 11, 2010 6:37 p.m.
American Dies Before Tijuana Judge
I had an expat friend pass a couple of years ago, I know what the procedure is. While it's entirely possible that some witness slipped a note to the Consulate regarding the incident, there can't be anything official, certainly no report. There has to be an autopsy first. The coroner can only release the autopsy report after relatives have been located and consent has been given. The Consulate will only issue an official report when they have a certified copy of the death certificate (which requires autopsy in cases like this), and various citezenship documents. Was there any foul play? No idea. But empirically, in my 18+ years here, while cops certainly have hassled and extorted in the past, they aren't keen on killing tourists. In fact, compared to Mexican citizens, gringos are generally treated with more respect, for fear that someone will complain. And I'll tell you what, I have seen American men come over here and get so drunk and mean and belligerent, I am inclined to believe the Tijuana side of this unless other evidence or testimony is presented at some point.— September 12, 2010 6:54 p.m.
American Dies Before Tijuana Judge
"The US Consulate General in TJ received a very different report from what Beaudeau parroted from his Mexican "journalist" sources." What report? I would contact the Consulate tomorrow in person and ask for a copy, but there isn't one. Since, you know, no one else has one, because it can't be accepted by the consulate without an autopsy report attached. And since, you know, no other news source has picked up this story, the Mexican sources are the only ones. "Why buy into their muck and smear the name of a person who died in police hands and can not defend himself? Shame on you Beaudeau and SD Reader for printing such trash without even trying to get the truth. Tell the detainee's story too." You're entitled to your opinion, but that's all it is, an opinion. And judging by your insinuation that the Consulate has some phantom report that Tijuana Police killed a gringo tourist, all I can say is odds are pretty good I would've heard about it on Friday morning.— September 12, 2010 6:27 p.m.
San Diego women who have converted to Islam
I can't believe my "breasts" typo. You're sort of making my point, Ms. Grant. In other words, it seems to have become a perversion, especially in the West. One comment hinted that it was a religious thing, and even the story comments thusly: "Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof." (Qur’an 24.31) Now let's make it more contextual, and examine the verse before it: "Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do." (Qur’an 24.30) And while we're at it, let's not leave out the tail-end of verse 24.31 which does not end with "thereof": "; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..." Basically, it is instructing men not to be perverts and women not to provoke such behavior and to save their "beauty" (which is ambiguous in context) for their husbands. In another verse, this is mentioned: "Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves) a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad). That is most convenient, that they be distinguished and not be harassed..." (Qur’an 33.58-59) Basically, it is instructing Muslims to wear clothing that will not subject themselves to harassment by non-believers. There's one more passage that reads similar to the first that uses the word "cape" but I can't find it at the moment. Anyway, that's the idea.— September 12, 2010 6:15 p.m.
San Diego women who have converted to Islam
"How do you feel about following ancient religious rules that were written entirely by men, for the benifit of men, and to ensure that women are treated as less than human?" Actually, the hijab and veil and so on were tribal traditions. The Quran only recommends modesty, that women keep their bodies covered in public so as not to be harassed. It uses a word that translates to "veil" for covering the breats, and a word that translates to "cloak" in another passage. No where in the Quran does it order that women keep their faces covered in public. Taken in the context it was written in the Quran, it appears as a message that women should avoid being harassed or ridiculed in public by the way they dress. There is a similar passage concerning men. Then, in many countries, wearing the hijab would certainly accomplish that mission because so many women dress in that manner. However, in the United States, the wearing of a hijab would have the exact opposite intent of any religious pretext it is meant to enforce.— September 12, 2010 3:27 p.m.
San Diego women who have converted to Islam
"..receiving end of our wealth-backed values..." Actually, I have noticed that none of those places have offered to return the billions of dollars in aid from the U.S. You could leave off "-based values" and be equally as accurate.— September 12, 2010 5:21 a.m.
San Diego women who have converted to Islam
"Maybe it's time we looked to them with respect to see what we can learn, rather than assuming we have all the answers." France has banned the wearing of the hijab in their country. What the French have said is that this is not out of disrespect toward Middle-Eastern countries, but more out of respect for France and French culture. Should French culture offend the just-under 10% Muslim population in France, the French recommend that the Muslim population repatriate at their convenience. I do not find this as a judgement, I find it as a reality that many Americans are afraid to broach.— September 12, 2010 4:56 a.m.
Spanos Really Wants L.A., Says Yahoo! Sports
Crys: Monday, the Chargers play in Kansas City.— September 12, 2010 2:36 a.m.
Now Venter Wants to Create Algae That Could Replace Fossil Fuels
Re #68: Certainly, but that was criminal. Many bank robberies are inside jobs, but should that reflect negatively on the banking industry?— September 11, 2010 9:50 p.m.
Now Venter Wants to Create Algae That Could Replace Fossil Fuels
Founder, while I don't defend the energy companies and their shinanigans, I'm unsure of how energy created by SDG&E's energy could be generated free in any way. Investments into solar panels are not cheap, but generally pay off in the long run. But it's an investment, never the less. And for any homeowner that invests in solar panels, if they produce more than they use, it makes sense that SDG&E would buy that energy back at a reduced price and simply add it back into the grid to sell to everyone else. Maybe this isn't the best analogy, but think of electricity as a commodity, like grains or pork bellies. If I grow grain or raise pork and I produce more than I consume, shouldn't I be able to sell that back to market? If I chose not to grow these things, I would have to pay market value for them. If I invest in their production, I should be able to sell excess back to markets where other people can purchase them at market value.— September 11, 2010 8:17 p.m.
Corporate America Keeps Profits Strong, Jobs Weak
Certainly. I'm reluctant to pimp websites here in the Reader, but we'll give this a shot and hope that the powers at be here understand that it's educational. http://www.econtalk.org/ I would normally rather read an interview than to listen to one, but you know, people seem to like this format. If you scroll down to the August 9th interview with Nobel Prize winning physicist Robert Laughlin, you'll find some enlightning references to energy and waste versus cost and other economic factors. This site is absolutely free and not for profit. You will find a few interviews with Nassim Taleb (author of The Black Swan), an interesting and controversial fellow. The best discussion in my opinion is from 1-12-09 with Steve Fazzari involving Keynesian theory and Roberts attempting to contrast it with Hayekian thoughts on economics. Way back in 2006 there are even a couple of podcasts interviewing Milton Friedman. Archives are here: http://www.econtalk.org/archives.html Enjoy.— September 11, 2010 6:37 p.m.