Environmental Economics

Running the LA marathon is exhausting...

...I know because I watched my second oldest daughter run it on Sunday and she looked really tired at the end (Picture is at the start line at Dodger Stadium the day before the race).

This location MAY be unsafe?

Thursday Beer Post: Env-Econer Turns 60!

Happy 60th Birthday to Env-Econ co-founder John. Let's all raise a cold one to the brains behind this operation (before he forgets who we are). 

Apparently the environment is politically divisive

From a recent Pew Research Survey, greedy nationalistic capitalist Republicans don't give a relative $&*^ about environmental issues compared to tree-hugging bleeding-heart Democrats.

 

Dawn of AI: Is ChatGPT autonomously sending emails now?

From the inbox:

Dear Dr.,

 

We hope this email finds you well. While browsing the internet, we came across your research articles and were intrigued to learn about the experiments you are conducting using the CVD method.

 

As a provider of CVD furnace systems, we have a wealth of experience in designing customized functions for researchers in colleges and institutes. These functions include plasma enhanced CVD, ALD & CVD system, vertical fluid bed system, and sliding chamber for fast cooling, among others.

 

Our team is highly experienced in various types of furnaces and is committed to providing reliable solutions tailored to your exclusive research requirements. Our strengths include quick response times and efficient service.

 

We apologize if this email causes any inconvenience. However, we would be more than happy to assist you with your CVD furnace needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our offerings.

 

Thank you for considering us.

Huh?

Now this looks like a job for me; So everybody, just follow me; 'Cause we need a little controversy; 'Cause it feels so empty without me*

Since John called me out in public to start re-posting and then started while I was at an administrative retreat...well played John...I'm back!

When John and I started Env-Econ in 2005, our goal was to help bring economic thinking to environmental issues in a fun, casual way that is accessible to non-academic audiences. Over the years I think we accomplished a lot of what we set out to do, but things started to get a little stale (probably because John and I both took the leap into academic administration and lost touch with some of the advances in the field of environmental economics). But I'm pleased to say that my 13 year sentence term as department chair is coming to an end soon and I'm ready to start spouting a few smart things and a lot of stupid ones again. Only this time I'm going to be learning along with you all.

Some of what we say will probably be repetitive from Env-Econ 1.0. Some will be new. And hopefully all will be entertaining. If nothing else I get to start making fun of John again in public.

*

 

Thanks for wearing a mask today!

What title do you tell journals you prefer? Dr.? Prof? Me? I prefer (Kentucky) Colonel

All pubs are good pubs

From the inbox:

I am [name] from [name] Publishing.

Would you be interested in publishing your work "Corrigendum: A revealed preference approach to valuing non-market recreational fishing losses from the Deepwater Horizon spill" as a paperback edition?

At [name]Publishing, we have worked with more than 250,000 authors, offering them international, free-of-charge publishing.
Can you imagine your work as a book?

The definition of corrigendum is "a thing to be corrected, typically an error in a printed book." So, yes, sure, I can definitely imagine my correction as a paperback book! Maybe a mystery where I'm the detective trying to uncover research errors of omission and suddenly I look in the mirror and find one of my own?

Actually, my reply was "no thanks."

And this blog could very well be exhibits A, B, and C...case closed.

Ummm...this:

"People are getting dumber. That's not a judgment; it's a global fact. In a host of leading nations, IQ scores have started to decline."