Environmental Economics

Ya know, the WSJ might just be a scam

I still get the WSJ headlines email even though I don't think the journal is worth $99/year anymore. Even so, sometimes I forget and click a link.

Thunderbird is very attentive to my needs.

Stingray Point

Nothing happens in this video, which gives you an idea of what I did a couple of days ago ... my first sailboat ride.

 

Picture of the Day

I received this from the WCOB blogger today, and can't resist posting it since it shows how patriotic I am with a blue shirt and all ... sorry about that!

Photo Credit: Rob Robertson.

Thanks to Tim for the shirt, purchased on site at the Final 4 (or at the Houston airport)!

I stab it with my steely knife but I just can't kill the beast*

The newest internet bubble and what I'm trying the do about it (Groupon's IPO) :

Groupon is part of an elite club of social Internet companies that is fanning investor ardor for the next generation of technology giants. The gaming company Zynga is preparing to file for an offering that could value it at more than $10 billion, according to two people with knowledge of the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Facebook, which recently raised $1.5 billion in a financing led by Goldman Sachs, is expected to file by next year. It’s the giant of the group, valued at as much as $80 billion.

On Thursday, the online music service Pandora moved one step closer to the public markets by setting its I.P.O. price range at $7 to $9, according to its latest filing. Pandora plans to raise as much as $141.6 million in its offering, at a $1.4 billion valuation.

I justed opted out of my daily Groupon email and am trying to delete my LinkedIn account (any suggestions on how to do that ... I'm afraid it might be like Hotel California).

On the other hand, I'm keeping my Pandora account.

*Alternative title: I can check out anytime I like, but I can never leave.

Intervention

Matt Kahn:

My Chicago teachers were wrong about one key point.  You can get work done in the sunshine.  I work harder here than I did when I was a graduate student in Chicago, or when I worked in New York City or when I worked in "glamorous" Cambridge.  The state's budget crisis will end, UCLA will become "self-sufficient" (i.e privatize) and order will be restored to the Star Wars galaxy.  This is paradise.  Life is too short to be miserable 9 months of the year (we did like Boston's May, September and October).

via greeneconomics.blogspot.com

Matt,

We get it. UCLA is awesome and you are glad you made the move. That's cool. But, now it is time to move past the mantra and simply live the dream. The folks back in Chicago, New York and Boston who (apparently) give you a hard time about not being serious anymore (you moved to California, you blog, you write books) are likely jealous that you have broken the chains and are now soarly freely. Try to ignore their jabs and don't look back.

Sincerely,

John W.

I hope no one asks for my e-mails that mention "Dan Patrick"

I took a risk, clicked on a NYTimes article and was relieved to find that it is still free (www.nytimes.com):

A conservative research group in Michigan has issued a far-reaching public records request to the labor studies departments at three public universities in the state, seeking any e-mails involving the Wisconsin labor turmoil.

The group, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, declined to explain why it was making the Freedom of Information Act request for material from professors at the University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State University. But several professors who received the records request, which was first reported by Talking Points Memo on Tuesday, said it appeared to be an attempt to intimidate or embarrass professors who are sympathetic to organized labor.

This records request, which was filed Friday, comes several days after the Republican Party of Wisconsin made a records request to a prominent University of Wisconsin history professor, William Cronon, who had severely criticized the state’s Republican governor, Scott Walker, over his push for legislation to weaken public-sector unions.

The Mackinac Center, which describes itself as a nonpartisan research and educational institution and receives money from numerous conservative foundations, asked the three universities’ labor studies faculty members for any e-mails mentioning “Scott Walker,” “Madison,” “Wisconsin” or “Rachel Maddow,” the liberal talk show host on MSNBC.

But seriously, should I forward all of my *.edu email to gmail? Is Google trying to grab market share by conspiring with the nonpartisan research and educational institutions?

An all-too-frequent off-topic post

Sorry, proud Dad moment.  Official oldest daughter of Env-Econ (OODEE) played her first HS softball game yesterday (freshman on Varsity).  She pitched two innings in relief, after a strong outing from the starter.  Came in in the 6th inning down 2-1.  Faced 7 batters, struck out 4 and gave up one hit (a bunt).  OODEE came to the plate in the bottom of the 7th (last inning in softball) with the bases loaded, one out, tie score.  Lined a shot off the pitcher's ribs (or knee, depending on who you ask) that ended up in shallow right field.  Winning run scored.  Nothing like a pitcher helping herself at the plate.

Here's the box score from the Columbus Dispatch.

Franklin Heights 010 010 0 — 2 6 1
Dublin Jerome 010 000 2 — 3 9 1
Siemer and Edwards; Ciminillo, Haab (6) and Hirth. W: Haab.

Now back to some relevant content...

Where I'll be Saturday

Appstate vs. Wofford:

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top-25 College Football Poll

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank

1. William & Mary Tribe (105)  7-2 3,902 4
2. Delaware Blue Hens (31)  8-1 3,860 5
3. Appalachian State Mountaineers (10)  8-1 3,402 1
4. Wofford Terriers (5)  8-1 3,400 7

via www.goblueridge.net

Appstate lost their first conference game in several years last week and this game will be for the conference championship. Plus, the winner is likely to have a #1 seed and home field advantage for the playoffs. I am somewhat likely to have fun.

Waxing nostalgic

I'm in Kentucky helping my mom clear out her house as she has moved into assisted living. So that might explain this, this and this.

On Saturday I head down to the alma mater for my 25th reunion (Centre-Millsaps) and then to the Kentucky-Georgia game that night. I'm sure there will be more waxing. I ask for your forgiveness in advance.

NY Lingerie?

From the inbox:

Greetings from NY Lingerie!

We are sorry to inform you that the item you ordered (as listed below) is currently on backorder. Backorders usually ship within 1-3 weeks. Please reply to this email if you would like us to remove this item from your order. Otherwise we will ship them as soon as it is back in stock. ...

Just so you know, I ordered "Hanes Classics Tall Mens Crewneck T Shirts 2-Pack White Large" (quantity=3) from Amazon like I do every year at about this time. I didn't know that it would be "NY Lingerie" actually filling the order but I'll sure be feeling sexy when I wear them.