tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63351612011-04-21T20:42:12.354+02:00As spontaneous as it can be. <br>Devoted to liberty, economics, sports and lots of coffee.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comBlogger1671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1118483900357236942005-06-11T11:57:00.000+02:002005-06-11T11:58:20.363+02:00

I'm here.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1110914613643050002005-03-15T20:18:00.000+01:002005-03-15T20:23:33.646+01:00

To say the least. Lots of things to do; master thesis, translations, teaching and other stuff. And I've paid more attention to my swedish blog, Sänd mina rötter regn (which means Send my roots rain).But things are cooling off, so I might become more active here as well.TTFN

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1097830410260923302004-10-15T10:53:00.000+02:002004-10-15T10:53:30.260+02:00

Wrong Page - Lost File

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1097494112792039462004-10-11T13:28:00.000+02:002004-10-11T15:23:58.396+02:00

Finn Kydland and Ed Prescott got the Nobel Prize in Economics. Finn Kydland's homepage at Carnegie Mellon. Ed Prescott's at Minneapolis Fed. Kydland comes from Norway and the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten writes about him in this article. "is only the third Norwegian to win the prestigious award ever"[my emph.] And that's one more than Sweden by the way.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1096494514585724622004-09-29T23:43:00.000+02:002004-09-29T23:48:34.586+02:00

Abiola Lapite: "This article really has to be read to be believed. If one were to take it at face value, one would imagine that libertarian advocates of private space travel had some sort of secret plot up their sleeve to subvert the Western way of life."

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1096493965011069842004-09-29T23:38:00.000+02:002004-09-29T23:39:25.010+02:00

A working paper from the New Zealand Treasury might bring some good news about the demographic problem. Population Ageing and Government Health Expenditures in New Zealand, 1951-2051: "The paper uses a simulation model to assess the effects of population ageing on government health expenditures in New Zealand. Population ageing is defined to include disability trends and "distance to death";

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1096367473623727512004-09-28T13:18:00.000+02:002004-09-28T12:41:45.353+02:00

Ten years ago today, the passenger ferry Estonia sank and 852 people died. Take a look at this page for some information.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1096361900132585652004-09-28T10:46:00.000+02:002004-09-28T10:58:20.133+02:00

Some blogs (Marginal Revolution, Common Knowledge and Division of Labour) have mentioned the Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project at Johns Hopkins University. Tyler Cowen wants the study to distinguish between private and public sector efforts. I had a post a while ago where I described the Swedish non-profit sector and the philanthropic content.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1096050823509479772004-09-24T20:28:00.000+02:002004-09-24T20:33:43.510+02:00

"Indian Railways is the responsibility of Lord Vishwakarma. So is the safety of passengers... It is His duty, not mine. I have been forced to don His mantle." -Laloo Prasad Yadav, Railway Minister in India. The fact that Lord Vishwakarma is a god scares the hell out of me.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1095973185192370162004-09-23T22:59:00.000+02:002004-09-23T22:59:45.193+02:00

'For decades we've been told Sweden is a great place to be a working parent. But we've been duped': "Working motherhood getting you down? Fed up with living in a country where you're made to feel like a bit of a slacker for getting pregnant? Well, don't move to Sweden. The Nordic country may have been boasting for decades about its fantastic parental pay and rights packages and its nurseries

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094839707669886962004-09-10T20:08:00.000+02:002004-09-10T20:08:27.670+02:00

Steven Seagal, at least better than David Hasselhoff's effort. (Link via planetdan.net)

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094839124528752052004-09-10T19:58:00.000+02:002004-09-10T19:58:44.526+02:00

Take a look at some photos "It's not a coincidence that cute almost rhymes with puke."

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094836777085823062004-09-10T19:19:00.000+02:002004-09-10T19:19:37.086+02:00

Dubya goes Hip Hop

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094834294044414402004-09-10T18:38:00.000+02:002004-09-10T18:38:14.043+02:00

People are actually willing to vote for Dick Cheney? What scares me the most is that he is supposed to be the intelligent one of the dynamic duo Bush and Cheney. "Indicators measure the nation's unemployment rate, consumer spending and other economic milestones, but Vice President Dick Cheney says it misses the hundreds of thousands who make money selling on eBay. "That's a source that didn't

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094752812110579972004-09-09T20:00:00.000+02:002004-09-09T20:08:36.306+02:00

Thomas Sowell: "In politics, throwing the taxpayers' money at disasters is supposed to show your compassion. But robbing Peter to pay Paul is not compassion. It is politics." UnFAIR: The failure of 'market failure'-driven fire insurance

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094158314202848232004-09-02T22:37:00.000+02:002004-09-08T15:54:08.796+02:00

Jeremy Rifkin had a piece in the Guardian yesterday. He seems to be fond of Europe, so fond of Europe that he actually wrote a book about Europe and how good the Europeans are. He called it The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream. Good to know that there is a “European Dream”, that was news to me. Apparently, the dream is even written down,

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1094057526812426272004-09-01T18:51:00.000+02:002004-09-01T19:05:38.756+02:00

Hans Kullin at Media Culpa goes into a head spin: “Recently, six individuals, out of at least four are involved in Muf, the youth organization of Swedish moderate party, started a campaign against Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11. They have started a network called Pro Veritas and its accompanying website Finn59fel cites 59 possible deceits in the film. They operate under a grassroots image

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093955301556055542004-08-31T14:28:00.000+02:002004-08-31T14:28:21.556+02:00

I found this blog, Spontaneous Order, via Tyler Cowen. The title refers to Friedrich Hayek's view of the society, read more about Spontaneous Order (the theory) here.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093459301540892352004-08-25T20:41:00.000+02:002004-08-25T20:41:41.540+02:00

How to become a libertarian. I can't really see how one can contend number 4, "Seemingly harmless things can lead to terrible outcomes". Unless you suppose that the government is omniscient of course. As for the "argument": Take seatbelt laws, for instance. Most states have laws on the books forcing people to wear seatbelts. Well, if the government learns that it can restrain us physically,

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093382266398268032004-08-24T23:17:00.000+02:002004-08-24T23:23:41.556+02:00

Amy Phillips: "I'm really, really tired of electoral politics." "* Some people who were in the same war as John Kerry 30 years ago don't like him much * George Bush did not fight in a war 30 years ago * George Bush has too much money * Ralph Nader is desperate * John Kerry has changed his mind over the last 40 years or so * Theresa Heintz Kerry is annoying * Bush's people are saying mean things

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093252974905820022004-08-23T11:22:00.000+02:002004-08-23T11:22:54.906+02:00

First there was the "clean venue policy" at the Olympic Games. Then the "hyperlink policy". And now this: Olympic athletes largely barred from posting online diaries. "The International Olympic Committee is barring competitors, as well as coaches, support personnel and other officials, from writing firsthand accounts for news and other Web sites. An exception is if an athlete has a personal

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093124099554118782004-08-21T23:19:00.000+02:002004-08-21T23:34:59.553+02:00

The Liberal Order seems to be a nice blog. Read Mark Steckbeck's follow-up on Alex Tabarrok's posts on the economic foundations of law. By the way, Marginal Revolution is one year old today. Happy Birthday!

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093120064108559162004-08-21T22:27:00.000+02:002004-08-21T22:28:33.060+02:00

...in Bulgaria. "A Bulgarian archaeologist has unearthed an ancient gold mask and a ring featuring an "Olympic" rower in what he called an unrivalled find in the study of classical antiquity. Georgi Kitov told Reuters on Friday the artifacts likely belonged to a fifth century B.C. leader of the Thracians, the dispersed tribes who once lived in parts of what is now modern-day Bulgaria, Romania,

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1093088164263847592004-08-21T13:32:00.000+02:002004-08-21T13:38:11.556+02:00

The new President of the European Commission, Jose Manuél Barroso, spoke out on the Lisbon Strategy yesterday in Financial Times: "It was a very ambitious goal and many consider it too ambitious" "Too ambitious" might be the understatement of the year. EU wants to be "the world's most dynamic and competitive economy", this by the end of 2010. I don't know what they were thinking (or smoking)

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092941112445569212004-08-19T20:38:00.000+02:002004-08-19T20:45:12.446+02:00

How to blog like an anthropologist I, II and III.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092938040363769082004-08-19T19:49:00.000+02:002004-08-19T19:54:00.363+02:00

Sorry, I couldn't resist. "BRIAN: Are you the Judean People's Front? REG: Fuck off! BRIAN: What? REG: Judean People's Front. We're the People's Front of Judea! Judean People's Front. Cawk. FRANCIS: Wankers. BRIAN: Can I... join your group? REG: No. Piss off. BRIAN: I didn't want to sell this stuff. It's only a job. I hate the Romans as much as anybody. PEOPLE'S FRONT OF JUDEA:

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092909172018326202004-08-19T11:52:00.000+02:002004-08-19T11:52:52.016+02:00

I blogged last week on the IOC's "clean venue policy". But the ATHENS 2004 Organising Commitee came up with an even more stupid policy, the "hyperlink policy". "For your protection and ours we have established a procedure for parties wishing to introduce a link to the ATHENS 2004 website on their site. By introducing a link to the ATHENS 2004 official Website on your site you are agreeing to

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092836429506372122004-08-18T15:40:00.000+02:002004-08-19T19:26:25.480+02:00

Will Wilkinson writes letters to the Objectivists. First letter. Second letter. Read Joshua Zader's post as well. Update: Timothy Sandefur responds to Will's second letter.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092662529338859902004-08-16T15:22:00.000+02:002004-08-16T15:30:59.743+02:00

12 year-old's program kills plagiarism: "Nicholas Hinds, 12, who attends Otepopo School in the small town of Herbert, south of Oamaru has penned a program called Punching Plagiarism, which uses the internet search engine Google to detect if the contents of any assignment has been nicked from the Internet." -- "Unfortunately the program works so well that it netted one plagiarism suspect –

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092601234753279382004-08-15T22:20:00.000+02:002004-08-15T22:20:34.753+02:00

Get Out of Hell Free

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092507737345918712004-08-14T20:19:00.000+02:002004-08-14T20:22:17.346+02:00

Did you know that it was a Swede who designed the Parthenon Temple in Athens? Perhaps a better word is redesign, because Otto Wilhelm von Königsmarck(in german) was more than 2000 years late. Anyway, von Königsmarck was a Swedish general working for the Venetian army in 1687 who took a little trip to Athens to fight a war against the Turks. The general decided to shoot some shells against

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092424779371225012004-08-13T20:59:00.000+02:002004-08-13T21:19:39.370+02:00

Some blogs have reported on this story: “Strict regulations published by Athens 2004 last week dictate that spectators may be refused admission to events if they are carrying food or drinks made by companies that did not see fit to sponsor the games.” “Sweltering sports fans who seek refuge from the soaring temperatures with a soft drink other than one made by Coca-Cola will be told to leave

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092386080364889382004-08-13T10:32:00.000+02:002004-08-13T10:42:20.660+02:00

"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast" Oscar Wilde

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092336636206377642004-08-12T20:46:00.000+02:002004-08-12T20:50:36.206+02:00

The media reports on Sweden's population today. More precisely that Sweden reached the 9 million mark. Well, at least the prognosis told Statistics Sweden that it would happen today. What is more interesting is that China's population increases by 12 million people every year, thats 33 percent more than Sweden's whole population. In India the population increases by 18 million every year, two

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1092060544608560122004-08-09T16:05:00.000+02:002004-08-10T12:13:57.983+02:00

The blogging have been light the last week. It's all because of the summer that decided to show up at last (except for some heavy lightening last thursday). But you can't stay out in the sun all days without doing some reading (at least I can't), so here's some suggestions. Simulating the New Economy by Gunnar Eliasson, Dan Johansson and Erol Taymaz. Abstract: The IT, the Internet, or the

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091637579281639652004-08-04T18:36:00.000+02:002004-08-09T16:13:53.646+02:00

Saddam Hussein wants to spend the time before his trial in a Swedish prison. Saddam's lawyer says: "Prisons in Sweden seem to be more comfortable than in other places. Besides, Sweden has historically been a neutral country." Well, he could have added that the Swedish prisons seem to have revolving doors, you're free to pass in and (mostly I guess) out whenever you want by the look of it. Last

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091557965729448942004-08-03T20:32:00.000+02:002004-08-03T20:32:45.730+02:00

Michael Munger took a trip to Cuba, sounds interesting enough. I traveled to Cuba recently, and got to form my own impressions. I went on an educational exchange program, exempting me from U.S. travel restrictions. With some other American academics, I gave a series of lectures at the Center for the Study of the United States, at the University of Havana. Our hosts were particularly impressed

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091555749978808102004-08-03T19:42:00.000+02:002004-08-03T19:55:49.976+02:00

Lots of posts on moral subjectivsm and related topics at Catallarchy (here, here, here, here, here and here, reversed chronology). I want to point to this paper by Niclas Berggren, Does Belief in Ethical Subjectivism Pose a Challenge to Classical Liberalism? Abstract: Classical liberalism stresses the desirability of free markets, limited government and the rule of law. As such, it builds on

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091554261245676712004-08-03T19:31:00.000+02:002004-08-03T19:31:01.246+02:00

New issue.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091307294543243962004-08-03T19:12:00.000+02:002004-08-03T19:24:44.290+02:00

Daniel Drezner points to this article in the Economist. The article reports on, among other things, philanthropy research made by The Center for Civil Society Studies at Johns Hopkins University. According to a graph in the article (graph number 2), Sweden is number two among the studied countries, just behind Netherlands, when it comes to private philanthropy. I guess that the Swedish estimate

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091222250521844362004-07-30T23:17:00.000+02:002004-07-30T23:17:30.520+02:00

Peter Bagge

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091221636206947692004-07-30T23:07:00.000+02:002004-07-30T23:12:33.120+02:00

From the Cato Institute, Democrats' Challenge on Tax Complexity: "After the GOP assumed power in 1995, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer promised to 'rip the income tax out by its roots.' In a 1996 report, Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich argued: 'The current tax system is indefensible. It is overly complex, burdensome, and severely limits economic opportunity for all Americans. We made

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091198637998970032004-07-30T16:43:00.000+02:002004-07-30T22:02:17.163+02:00

It makes you come up with new games, Peter Leeson from Common Knowledge wants us to have Fun with Average Cost. "Chris and I went to dinner last night and discovered a new and entertaining game that's fun for the whole family. We decided to see who could drive the average cost of their soft drink closest to zero. Coke, which both of us were drinking, cost $1.50 with free refills. Of course, you

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091131960416584682004-07-29T22:12:00.000+02:002004-07-29T22:12:40.416+02:00

Johan Norberg reported last year that it took a Kenyan 11 procedures, 61 days and half his annual income to start a business. Now, nine months later, it takes 12 procedures, 47 days and still half his annual income. It's 10 procedures and 45 days more than in Australia, but at least the duration declines.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091102490402562722004-07-29T13:59:00.000+02:002004-07-30T15:46:05.143+02:00

...post with p = 0.96 I have a vague idea of reading something similar a while ago, but in Swedish. I shall try to find the article, but it might be me dreaming. Update: No, didn't find it. Anyway, Daniel Drezner answered Tyler here and here.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091054375553608662004-07-29T13:27:00.000+02:002004-07-29T13:53:05.633+02:00

Via Magnifisyncopathological I found this article in Slate, Tour De Lance - The international press snipes at America's superhero by Susan Daniels. She mentions four articles, but I can only agree on two of them, perhaps the third as well. I grant the first and the second article, even though drug abuse story shouldn't be brushed aside too easily. His connections with Michele Ferrari is "fishy"

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091051360213682602004-07-28T23:49:00.000+02:002004-07-28T23:49:20.213+02:00

The Simpsons Channel: "One of the veteran cartoon stars of The Simpsons is coming out of the closet. The betting on who it might be would seem to favor sniveling yes-man Waylon Smithers. For years he has harbored a secret crush on his boss, the evil nuclear tycoon Mr- Burns. But the show's producers refused to tell fans at the sci-fi and comic book gathering Comic-Con International if he's the

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1091049738987305812004-07-28T23:22:00.000+02:002004-07-28T23:28:31.033+02:00

Nice article by Will Wilkinson at Tech Central Station dealing with this piece by Ed Feser. Julian Sanchez also had a go at it last week.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090950542716695912004-07-27T19:49:00.000+02:002004-07-27T19:55:23.553+02:00

Ben Muse has a lot on the WTO negotiations.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-109094909580503642004-07-27T19:24:00.000+02:002004-07-27T19:31:47.750+02:00

I find this disturbing. Even though both Yahoo ! and Google are allowed to support the Chinese government, it doesn't mean that they should. First of all, supporting a repressive government, of any sort, is morally wrong. Secondly, people uses both Yahoo ! and Google to find information. If the information is believed to be "tainted" or if it is unavailable, people will most likely use another

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090878863248401472004-07-26T23:54:00.000+02:002004-07-26T23:54:23.250+02:00

From CNN, Stalin makes public comeback. (Link via Stockholm Spectator: Stambord, read the post)

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090877202987048172004-07-26T23:26:00.000+02:002004-07-26T23:26:42.986+02:00

It's a convention.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090852733449389842004-07-26T16:37:00.000+02:002004-07-26T16:44:25.046+02:00

Alex Tabarrok has a post on Lance Armstrong and game theory. He refers to a Stephen Tuel, who claims that the 18th stage of the Tour de France was “an excellent example of game theory at work”. I can’t really concur with Tuel, in my opinion Armstrong acted irrationally. Last Friday, the 18th stage went from Annemasse to Lons-le-Saunier in the east of France (if you have a map, try to find

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090778426995351692004-07-25T19:07:00.000+02:002004-07-25T20:00:26.996+02:00

The question will inevitably come up, is Lance Armstrong, with his six victories in the Tour de France, the best cyclist ever? But in my opinion, that question* is impossible to answer. Armstrong won six years in a row, struggled against and defeated cancer the years before his first victory and so on. But how do one compare his achievemens with, say Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090691661172099792004-07-24T19:53:00.000+02:002004-07-24T19:54:21.173+02:00

As I predicted last sunday, Lance Armstrong was far better than Ivan Basso in the time trials and Lance wins his sixth Tour de France in a row. And that's new records, both when it comes to wins in consecutive years and total number of wins. I know that there's a stage tomorrow, but it won't change the podium. This years number two, Andreas Klöden, is 6 minutes and 38 seconds behind (last year

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090686103152763392004-07-24T17:59:00.000+02:002004-07-24T18:21:43.153+02:00

Two articles that I want to recommend: Sins of the Mother. An interview with the journalist Bertina Röhl at the Stockholm Spectator. It was Röhl who cracked the story on Joschka Fischer and his past a couple of years ago. And by the way, Röhl is Ulrike Meinhof's daughter."The RAF was shrouded in myth from day one. People spoke of Baader being liberated with the help of my mother. But the

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090606719134182712004-07-23T20:18:00.000+02:002004-07-24T18:33:36.676+02:00

Alex Tabarrok on the socks.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090602825986309232004-07-23T19:10:00.000+02:002004-07-23T19:17:37.670+02:00

A while ago I mentioned Åke Green, a Pastor who got sentenced to one month in jail and a fine for "agitation" against homosexuals. Well, the information have now reached The Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS, and they will protest against this. "God is not mocked!" God Hates Fags! & Fag-Enablers! Ergo, God hates Sweden with an irreversible hatred for same-sex marriage and for criminalizing

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090586790458392172004-07-23T14:44:00.000+02:002004-07-23T14:46:30.456+02:00

Via PrestoPundit, I found this post at The Indepundit which I found troublesome. Not the obvious part, that spectators spat at and gave Lance Armstrong the finger, because you probably need to be drunk to see anything good in that. Being a cycling afficionado, I really think that this sort of behavior don't belong along the road. What troubles me this time is that Greg at PrestoPundit and many

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090571766634014832004-07-23T10:27:00.000+02:002004-07-23T11:04:40.946+02:00

A while ago I linked to this post at Media Culpa. It looks lika a Swedish journalist at Dagens Nyheter who works in New York just translated some articles from different news papers and published them as his own work. According to Stockholm Spectator, the journalist might have been sacked. More here and here.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090527045984125332004-07-22T21:49:00.000+02:002004-07-22T22:10:45.983+02:00

Henry Farrell and Daniel Drezner have written a nice little paper on blogging which I recommend. The paper is available here. More information at Crooked Timber and at Daniel Drezner's blog. Randy Barnett have an article on libertarianism, The Moral Foundations of Modern Libertarianism, which I also enjoyed.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090345824511075032004-07-20T19:50:00.000+02:002004-07-20T20:11:08.316+02:00

Craig Newmark points to an article in PC World, Busting the Biggest PC Myths. Perhaps it shouldn't be regarded as a PC Myth since it, I guess, involves Mac as well, but here's another story, The Fable of the Keys.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090344961431463922004-07-20T19:01:00.000+02:002004-07-20T19:36:01.430+02:00

Sweden's National Institute of Public Health is a frightening institution. If they could, they would certainly run your life for you. So every now and then they run amok with new reports, on alcohol, tobacco, HIV/AIDS, obesity, the consequences of children's TV consumption, family issues, und so weiter. All with different solution where the public can interfere.   It is, of course, natural. If

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090171499733502462004-07-18T18:58:00.000+02:002004-07-18T19:24:59.733+02:00

Not necessarily, but I think it is. The Tour de France that is. Lance Armstrong and Ivan Basso (not to mention Armstrong's team mate Jose Azevedo) had a superb yesterday on the stage from Lannemezan to Plataeu de Beille in the Pyrenees. Armstrong is second on the GC and Basso third, the gap is one minute and 17 seconds. Armstrong is 22 seconds behind the leader, young Thomas Voeckler but he won't

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090095337756266222004-07-17T22:15:00.000+02:002004-07-17T22:26:47.866+02:00

Pulp Fiction: "I think The Gimp's asleep." Fargo: "'No.' First thing you've said in the last four hours. That's a, that's a fountain of conversation, man. That's a geyser. I mean, whoa, daddy, stand back, man. Shit, I'm sittin' here driving, man, doin' all the driving, whole fuckin' way from Brainerd, drivin', tryin' to, you know, tryin' to chat, keep our spirits up, fight the boredom of the

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090094590445817202004-07-17T22:03:00.000+02:002004-07-17T22:03:10.446+02:00

Don't Let Go (From Newmark's Door) Almost as "funny" as this.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1090083048816456422004-07-17T18:50:00.000+02:002004-07-17T18:50:48.816+02:00

The Value of Values : "Why all the talk of values? In Beaver, Kerry explained that "a president of the United States makes value judgments every single day." As opposed to the rest of us, who wouldn't know a value if it poked us in the eye." -- "In short, Kerry is on to something when he says Bush does not truly stand for conservative values. On spending, trade, civil liberties, and

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089917581390794782004-07-15T20:53:00.000+02:002004-07-15T21:52:12.356+02:00

Fraser Institute Cato Institute Note: the Cato site seems to be under heavy traffic at the moment, you might want to try the Fraser Institute instead. Hong Kong Tops Economic Freedom List From the report: "Hong Kong retains the highest rating for economic freedom, 8.7 of 10, closely followed by Singapore at 8.6. New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States tied for third with

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089915379431687982004-07-15T20:16:00.000+02:002004-07-15T20:16:19.430+02:00

New newsletter from the Movimiento Libertario in Costa Rica: "To be clear, the Central American Free Trade Treaty, or CAFTA, as it is commonly known, is not about free trade. A Libertarian free trade treaty would consist of one sentence: 'Neither party will place any barriers to any goods or services entering their respective countries.' Of course, lawyers, even Libertarian lawyers, would make

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089743035274295732004-07-13T20:23:00.000+02:002004-07-13T20:23:55.273+02:00

OK, so I won't go to Myanmar in the nearest future. Cuba, Iraq and Syria will have to wait as well. Common Knowledge: Coca-Cola's World Empire

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089722955827525552004-07-13T14:32:00.000+02:002004-07-13T15:02:50.400+02:00

There is an ongoing debate in the blogosphere after this piece by Steven Landsburg on minimum wages appeared in Slate. For some reactions, look here, here and here. Econ 101 tells you that if you set up a price floor, then the supply exceeds the demand which in the case of minimum wages means unemployment. There are some problems with this very simple text book analysis. First of all, as Tyler

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089639775277649292004-07-12T15:42:00.000+02:002004-07-12T15:42:55.276+02:00

On this day, July 12th, in 1794, Horatio Nelson lost his right eye. So if you stroll by Trafalgar Square in London, tell him to cheer up and ask him why the hell he went to Corsica in the first place. And if that's not enough, exact 100 years ago, Pablo Neruda, who won the Nobel Prize in literature 1971, was born.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089569769467558882004-07-11T20:16:00.000+02:002004-07-11T20:16:09.466+02:00

Nice post from Stefan Geens on a recent trial in Sweden where a pastor got sentenced to one month in jail and fined the equivalent to 3600$. All this for his "agitation against ethnic group", in this case the "ethnic" group was homosexuals. Read this post for some background information.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089540834427658872004-07-11T12:13:00.000+02:002004-07-11T12:13:54.426+02:00

With the 8th stage today, the riders still have two weeks to go before the finish on Champs Elysee in Paris. If you're interested in what a cyclist might think, read Scott Sunderland's diary.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089401768804292872004-07-09T21:36:00.000+02:002004-07-09T21:36:08.806+02:00

Gerald P. O'Driscoll on the gold standard. If you haven't read O'Driscoll's and Mario Rizzo's The Economics of Time and Ignorance, make sure you do.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089321523025756342004-07-08T23:18:00.000+02:002004-07-08T23:18:43.026+02:00

Environmental porn(adult contents... warning... blah blah blah) “Fuck for forest” are concerned youngsters, fighting to preserve the environment. We believe it is possible to use people’s need for sexuality as a way to raise money for nature. And create interest for preserving our forests. It is time to pay respect, and give something back. Fuck for forest, and give the profit to the earths

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089318205202654872004-07-08T22:23:00.000+02:002004-07-08T22:23:25.203+02:00

Reason: "Meanwhile, some conservatives will no doubt use Moore's movie as a justification for nastiness and demagoguery on the right. Is Michael Moore the counter-Ann Coulter? Is Ann Coulter the counter-Michael Moore? Either way, the vicious cycle keeps getting more vicious. Just recently, the Bush-Cheney reelection campaign contributed to the Moorification (or Coulterization) of public

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089199092276048672004-07-07T13:18:00.000+02:002004-07-07T19:53:58.550+02:00

Then maybe they could lower the taxes. According to a survey made by the Swedish Tax Payers Association(Swedish only) and the survey company Demoskop, the Swedish average tax on income should be 36 percent. Compared with the actual average tax, that's 27 percentage points lower than todays 63 percent. Of course, if the public believes that the average tax are much lower than they really are, such

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089191261614424532004-07-07T11:07:00.000+02:002004-07-07T11:07:41.613+02:00

Swedish media reports today that competition lowers food prices. It is based on a study made by a pensioner organization where they compare the prices of food baskets from various parts of the country. I can't imagine what they will report on tomorrow, perhaps that apples fall to the ground because of gravity.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1089029705486535522004-07-05T13:59:00.000+02:002004-07-05T14:15:05.486+02:00

I would've laughed three weeks ago if someone said to me then that Greece would win Euro 2004. But here we are now, the day after the final and Greece are the winners. Not, in my opinion, due to an outstanding attacking play but to an excellent defense. The first half of the final against Portugal ended without any goals, a result that must be regarded as fair. Portugal started the second half

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088786635325225902004-07-02T18:43:00.000+02:002004-07-02T18:43:55.326+02:00

Yahoo! News - Two-time Oscar winner Marlon Brando dead at 80

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088786337333642182004-07-02T18:38:00.000+02:002004-07-02T18:38:57.333+02:00

...Tour de France... but were afraid to ask. You can find it at cyclingnews.com. My prediction is that Lance Armstrong's sixth victory might not come this year. I think he'll have to watch the Spaniards Roberto Heras (a former team mate) and Iban Mayo. But he needs to worry about Jan Ullrich too, as well as nasty allegations from other people. It all begins tomorrow. Since Euro 2004 ends on

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088758624333602052004-07-02T10:57:00.000+02:002004-07-02T10:57:04.333+02:00

Media Culpa

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088754728586820622004-07-02T09:26:00.000+02:002004-07-02T09:52:08.586+02:00

Portugal - Netherlands 2 - 1 Portugal started Euro 2004 with a poor performance against Greece. But their game have improved remarkably since then and the first hour against Netherlands where their best so far. Portugal got into the lead after a header by Ronaldo in the 26th minute and in the 58th, Maniche extended to 2-0 after a beautiful strike. The Dutch's regained some strength after a

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088687596806957022004-07-01T15:13:00.000+02:002004-07-01T15:13:16.806+02:00

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Thousands in HK protest march

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088533725087416902004-06-29T20:28:00.000+02:002004-06-29T20:28:45.086+02:00

Sex and Propaganda (adult contents... nudity... warning... blah blah blah...) Actually, the article is at least as interesting as the pictures. (Link via Abiola Lapite).

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088533530117498392004-06-29T20:25:00.000+02:002004-06-29T20:25:30.116+02:00

Court backs Turkish headscarf ban

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088532368046988832004-06-29T20:06:00.000+02:002004-06-29T20:34:03.123+02:00

US court bars internet porn law Eugene Volokh on the topic.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-108853104843103172004-06-29T19:14:00.000+02:002004-06-29T19:44:08.430+02:00

If Ayn Rand invented Objectivism, does it mean that Objectivism is a matter of subjectivism? An idea projected on reality by Rand herself? If, instead, Ayn Rand discovered Objectivism, drawing conclusion from reality, does it mean that any claim that Objectivism is a closed system must imply that Rand herself was omniscient and infallible? Well, I'm not an objectivist, so I don't need to bother

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088447468085911072004-06-28T20:26:00.000+02:002004-06-28T20:31:08.086+02:00

"I don’t think there’s a big problem that Gothenburg got 345 million [about 45 million USD – my note] to try their wings both when it comes to development of methods and other things." Social Democrat Pelle Berglund. I agree, why is that a problem? I would also like 345 million of the tax payers money to play around with. That would be really nice.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088428137534830892004-06-28T14:54:00.000+02:002004-06-28T15:08:57.533+02:00

Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee... The Czechs looked troubled in the first half, not creating very much and letting the Danes play their game. But that seems to be just tactical, because the Czechs destroyed the match in the beginning of the second half and Denmark had no chance. A nice header from Koller and two lovely strikes from Milan Baros in just 15 minutes, and the Danes could

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088359993380504832004-06-27T19:59:00.000+02:002004-06-27T20:13:13.380+02:00

It was a close call. One ball deflected into the post and one goal denied for Netherlands. One ball in the post and one hitting the crossbar for Sweden. And that's only in the overtime. Other than that, the Dutch's had more of ball possession but didn't create chances in the same effect. Sweden had some opportunities that with some more luck could have led to something more than just

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088251370976227662004-06-26T14:02:00.000+02:002004-06-26T14:02:50.976+02:00

Thomas Sowell: Random thoughts: "Egalitarians create the most dangerous inequality of all -- inequality of power. Allowing politicians to determine what all other human beings will be allowed to earn is one of the most reckless gambles imaginable. Like the income tax, it may start off being applied only to the rich but it will inevitably reach us all."

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088250205904726652004-06-26T13:17:00.000+02:002004-06-26T13:43:25.906+02:00

Portugal - England 2 - 2 (6 - 5 pen.) England started with a goal already in the third minute when Michael Owen scored his first of the Euro 2004. Portugal responded by attacking ferociously but without creating the real heat. But just 7 minutes before, Helder Postiga headed the equalizer. England gained a little strength in the continuing minutes and actually scored a second goal, but the

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088248346669389812004-06-26T13:02:00.000+02:002004-06-26T13:16:59.770+02:00

Sweden's "leading Objectivist" just told me "up yours". Since Objectivist's in general haven't really grasped David Hume and the is-ought problem, and I told him that, he kind of flipped out. I found that amusing. Objectivists seems to be a little bit touchy. I wonder what he'll do after my next article I'm writing, where I criticize George Reisman from an Austrian point of view. According to

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088183683611426222004-06-25T19:14:00.000+02:002004-06-25T19:14:43.610+02:00

It's midsummer and in Sweden that's a holiday. And holiday's are just another excuse to get really hammered. Slante!

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088085263557969902004-06-24T15:54:00.000+02:002004-06-24T15:54:23.556+02:00

Eric Rasmussen and Micha Ghertner responds to this post by Cass Sunstein on the topic of property rights. As I see it: The notion of property rights is not created by law (or rather, legislation if we allow ourself to remember the distinction made by Hayek between law and legislation). Propert did exist long before any government begun to "enforce" any rights. As H. Scott Gordon concluded:

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088083213092624322004-06-24T15:20:00.000+02:002004-06-24T15:20:13.093+02:00

BBC NEWS - Euro pact rules to be reviewed I voted no in the Swedish referendum last September concerning Swedens entry into the European Monetary Union. Letting the politicians to play even more with the economy, by allowing them larger budget deficits, is not a good idea.

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088081536354753482004-06-24T14:52:00.000+02:002004-06-24T14:52:16.353+02:00

If you visit climateprediction.net and download their software, you can help them run climate models. The data that your computer produce will be uploaded back to the climate researchers. They will also check the plausibility of the movie The Day After Tomorrow. Climate film put to computer test

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6335161.post-1088064343575631942004-06-24T09:48:00.000+02:002004-06-24T10:05:43.576+02:00

And the Germans are out. You could have expected that Germany would start in tempo furiosi against the Czechs, playing an attacking game. Well, they didn't until well into second half. By then the two teams had scored one goal each, both equally brilliant, by Ballack and Heinz. After an hour, the Germans got to the grip and started to attack while the Czechs backed down. Germany created a lot of

Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027539954127292070noreply@blogger.com