If you ask they'll tell you

I am Beast.

I am taking an economics class and now I realize what is wrong with economists. They see the world through goggles that delete the human factor to our decisions. Their worldview disregards the personal side to any economic choice. For instance, (this is according to my class) an ordinary economist would always argue in favor of unrestricted free trade regardless of the short term consequences. The decision to lift tariffs or other barriers to trade is made by political figures inside of a government institution. However, while in theory free trade helps everybody in reality it is political suicide. The politicians responsible and the industries threatened by such a change are not faceless drones.

Similar decisions happen on smaller scales inside municipal governments. A majority (93%) of economists say Rent Control should be ended. Rent control, a simple way to provide some affordable housing options, does have problems. However, the current trend in providing affordable housing is to take the land of the speculative market and put it in the hands of the community (not the government). This unusual arrangement is known as a Community Land Trust and it is quickly gaining momentum as the only way to provide real, sustainable affordable housing. Economists are blind to the fact that humans make choices. Developers can never be given a serious incentive to build low-cost housing (that won't bankrupt the local government). So the solution to satisfying all needs in the housing market works entirely around the entrapments of our market system. Now, while rent control is flawed compared to this system, it is a temporary fix that has benefited some low-income folks. It's flaw is precisely what the Community Land Trust avoids: the speculative market. Low rent apartments have much higher demand and are more sought after. Land and housing are not merely goods or parcels. To treat either as a mere commodity to be traded neglects the fact that people and land are inseparable.

Okay enough ranting.

Paper Clips. Good images of wired paper clips through the years. My favorite is the Banjo Clip.

Stephen Hawking Interactive action figure provides hours of fun for your lunatic-fringe nephew who collects hard-to-find television related toys.

This is awesome. I haven't had a chance to look at all the pictures but so far it sounds like one of the greatest achievements in mapping history.

Defective Yeti reviews the bad reviews of The Perfect Score.