4ECon - March 2008

Ah, March. Here's the scoop:


1. I defended CEO pay against a Congress attack. Other people defended their jaded perspectives against a Dave attack. It's all in the comments.

2. I wrote a few more notes to people that certainly do exist. For the record: It's a Hertz Doughnut. You get it, right?! Maybe that joke was before your time...

3. I stole a graph and commented on it, then asked my readers to figure out an answer. While a couple of real-life acquaintances and I believe we've figured out a [way too complex] answer, only Steampower-G came back with a theory (a good one, too) in this digital world (the comments section). Shame on all you other digital people!


And that's it. Yes, my blog-post rate experienced a rapid deceleration in March, I know. It's not that I don't have a ton of useless crap to write about, it's just that I started an imaginary emu farm in the middle of the month and now I've got all these emus to care for. ...Metaphorical emus, of course. You know what I'm talking about.

- Davis

4ECon - February 2008

I forgot it was already March. Weehoo, that was a fast month...

As is the pointless tradition around here, it's time to remind nobody what didn't happen in February. Wait, scratch that - reverse it. Everybody, here's what did happen in February:

1. Candidates were released from Gamepaign 2008 after failing miserably (Click on the link and scroll all the way down if you want to see their histories): Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and, of course, Mike Randolph (who didn't actually fail miserably - technically he's still in. See here.)

2. I gave John McCain some praise that he may or may not have deserved, and I totally kissed the ass of Barack Obama. There's some sort of major endorsement in that post somewhere, nestled within a bunch of rambling. Come to think of it, you know what I really like about Obama? All those xenophobic protectionists are going to be totally humiliated and red in the face when they find out Obama's been tricking them with the anti-NAFTA talk... Or so I hope...

3. I had a theory from which I might have derived an amazing algorithm for highly-efficient dating, had it not been for the fact that I'm crowded out of this market by people who actually know what they're doing. (People with computers, large databases and massive ad budgets...)

4. Part two of The Dating Game. Long story short, I didn't figure out that algorithm.

5. The MPAA lied on two separate occasions about pirates. I have proof.

6. I posted some short notes I wrote to people who exist only in a world where ceteris paribus is a phrase that everyone is not only aware of, but bored by.


And that's it. I'm fresh out of the usual [un]funny commentary that I normally put in this space. Instead, have a link to the coolest music-related thing I've ever seen in my life:

http://www.musicovery.com

Do it to it. You'll see, it's great.

- Dave

4ECon - January 2008

Well, folks, it's been a Jantastic month.

Though I did spend the last few days being very sick. In fact, when I wrote that last post about the Democratic debate I was a little out of my mind with tiredness and braindeadism. Regardless, I'm sure you all appreciated my ranting.

For the record, which I'm always referring to but have never actually seen (who's maintaining this record? Google...?), January marks 6 months - a full 1/2 year - of 4EConglomeratory goodness. To celebrate this anniversarial goodness, I've decided to finally tell the story behind the 4ECon flag graphics. I know, you've all waited long enough. The time has come.

After I recap the month's postings, that is.

1. First off in January was part one of my attempt to dispute the idea that our middle class is being crunched/squeezed/destroyed/whatever. There is definitely, definitely more to be said about this - for as long as Lou Dobbs lives, Almighty God will not let me stop blogging. I even asked if I could stop and he said no.

2. Next off was The Parking Con. There is not a single website anywhere on the internet that does a better job showing parking behavior - nor has there ever been a blog post on any blog that can so easily double as a metaphor for whatever you want. Efficient Market Hypothesis? BS! This post knocked the socks off EMH! Go ahead, just try and argue! (Just kidding, don't try.)

3. Third was The War Conspiracy Game. It was supposedly a game because naming the post "The War Conspiracy" wasn't as interesting. Or would it have been? I have no falking clue. What am I, some sort of naming specialist?

4. I invented Krug Disease and I finally brought to the internet the phrase "Someone Set Up Us The Obama," (© 2005 Stephen Guzzo) . That's golden.

5. I got sick (Krug Disease?), I was bored, and I was watching the Democratic debates on CNN - in that order - so I posted my thoughts. I called it "Deblogging" because I was referencing myself from August 2007. I thought it was cool until I woke up the next morning and realized that no, no, in was not, in fact, cool at all. As we all know, though, once something is blogged, it can never be unblogged. What? Unblog is so a word.




A'ight.

And now, finally, the long awaited story behind the 4ECon flag graphics. I hope you're all wearing socks. Here goes. Finally:

I used Photoshop to turn a picture of my hand into a four because I was bored, then I put it on a flag-shaped thing and pretended that it looked like a 4 on an 'E', which is my last name in quasi-leet speak. And it's cool. The end.

And now you all finally know the story behind the über-famous 4ECon flags. Please, please, please, if you're the media, stop sending me requests for interviews about this one. Also, if you're the media, start doing a better job.

And just in case you didn't notice: Starting January 1st, you can click on the flag of any post and it'll sort all previous posts by that topic. Piratey is still my favorite brand. Try it or don't. I know, I know, it's lamer than your mom.

OK, that's enough of that.

- Dave

4ECon - December 2007

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I'm supposed to wrap up the month with one of these posts. Can't fight tradition, right?

So December was my first month here in my new, not-as-cold-as-you'd-think city. It's been awesome so far, and, as you might have guessed, not as cold as I thought it would be. Yet. I'll let you know if that changes in January...

Anyways, here's the wrap:

1. My argument against the over-used statement, "The rich are getting the richer and the poor are getting poorer" was the only Rock Hard Data entry for the month. Yes, Mr. Pessimism, the rich have been getting richer, but so have the poor.

2. Next was an attempt at some form of humor while also making the very serious point that one should not concern one's self with things over which one should not be concerned.... with...

3. For Christmas I selflessly decided to give away my unused carbon for the year. Now someone else can pollute the planet instead of me and feel equally as guilt-free. Possibly even freer.

4. For my real thoughts on carbon offsets, see #27 of my List of 49 Things I Mostly Agree With. My resolution for the new year was to be more boring (basically), so I made a bigass list of stuff that I was probably going to devote entire posts to. Maybe I still will. Anyone have any major disagreements to items on my list that I can argue with?

That's what I thought. Say that to my face!

Anyways, now that I'm all reasonably settled in here in the hot-air-but-cold-weather center of the universe, I ought to do some more of that stuff... whaddya call it?... Ummm... Ya know, that stuff I used to do all the time...

Oh, that's right. Posting on this blog.

Also, I think it's time for Gamepaign to start reflecting the "new" "positions" of our stupid candidates, because they've started to rockesses out with their caucuses out.

Soon enough. Soon enough...

- Mr. D.

4ECon - 2007

2007 IN THE 4ECON
Each of the links below contains a link to and summary of each of the month's posts:







August 2007 (The Beginning)





September 2007
October 2007





November 2007
December 2007




Farewell, 2007. I'll miss you.

4ECon - November 2007

November 2007: The most boring month in the history of this blog.

So here's a recap!


1. I submitted some questions for Mike Randolph

Then the 4ECon "went dark." Yeah, just like a television studio. Isn't that adorable?

2. Before my trip to DC.
3. Immediately after the trip.
4. Right before I moved to DC.

And now, here it is, December 12th and I'm barely getting settled into my new place in Alexandria (right outside of DC and right next to the metro), finally getting around to summarizing November in the 4ECon for future generations to uncover.


(22301 for me, if you're curious)


So... Thus ends the dark days of the 4ECon. Light shall shine upon the internet, and economics-related bullshit shall reign supreme once again.

Hurrah!

4ECon - October 2007

Well if isn't November already....

That sure was a special month. October was full of magical magicalis, excitement and wonder, and some blog posts, too, but it was a really special month for just one reason:

I became friends with Kai Ryssdal on Facebook. That's right - friends!


I get little status updates from his Facebook profile in the third person (Kai Ryssdal is writing the show... Kai Ryssdal is with the family...), I can look at his profile any time I want (I'd show you, but I'd feel like I'd be betraying his friendship-trust) and, best of all, I can totally write him a message (or perhaps some show advice?) and he won't think I'm some strange fan - 'cuz I'm his FRIEND!

I'm now officially somebody! If you're a girl, you're welcome to come over to my house and touch me. Never been so close to stardom before? Well, then, wear a glove.



Anyways, here's what happened in October (for the 0 people who don't know):

1. First in the month was the longest post ever about the GDP and the Federal Funds Rate - I figured my readers would be overjoyed to find out about the long term trend of the funds rate and its relationship with gross domestic product growth... and I was right!

2. Chris Jeffords from Economic Testing In Progress continued the GDP & Funds Rate talk. ...Yes, it was that exciting!

3. Do you sleep with a gun under your pillow? Don't hide it - let the world know with a Pillow Gun Sign! It might increase your odds of dying, but hey - if someone breaks into your house, you'll wake up, right? ...Unless you're taking sleeping pills.... But you could just let the burglars know that, too, with a sign that says: "Burglars! I'm totally asleep and will not wake up and shoot you, so please just rob my house and ignore me - don't worry about getting me 'out of the picture' by shooting me."

4. I tested Google and lost - they're much more intelligent than I expected. (That's right, Google - you hear that? Don't destroy me, please...)

5. Yet another installment of Rock Hard Data showed the history of income for the median earner, as well as the history of hours worked in various industries. The conclusion: We were better off in 2006 than we were in 1996, which was better than 1986, which was better than 1976, and so on...

6. Gamepaign 2008 was introduced, then I spent more than a week talking about it and boring everybody in the process. The other four post links you can just click on your damn self...

7. I posted some necessary links. Also, I got to point out how awesome I was in predicting the Black Monday anniversary stock semi-crash we experienced on 10/19/07. Hooray for written records, AKA blogging! ...And did anyone read that link about strippers' menstrual cycles?

8. Next was part one of the two part mega-series "Better Than Malaria Nets." This bitch was a blockbuster. To summarize, I went looking for a consumer good that represented a country's wealth accurately and without dispute, and ended up finding my preachy self in the process. Critics are raving:

"Heartwarmingly pointless!"
- President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

9. ...Then there was part two, which had pictures. Also, I waxed an extreme amount of nostalgic.

10. Finally, the last post of the second full month at the 4ECon was the Halloween Special "Optimal Treating," which proved (without a single doubt) that you should only spend $14 on a Halloween costume for your kid, and 11 or 12 cents per piece of candy. Breaking these spending rules will result in a loss of surplus & personal value, and ultimately Halloween chaos. Don't you dare try to give kids full-size candy bars. You'd be effin' up the equilibrium...



Man, I'm such a grouch. I don't know how you all put up with me.

But you do! - post after post after post, I'm always provin' this wrong, or shiftin' that paradigm, or breakin' some girl's heart, ignoring moderation and keeping it ultra real. And you, you 4ECon readin' angels, you all stick with me, holding my hand as I explore life and economics with my wide open little blue puppy dog eyes and my precocious little text-waddle. You're all just super!

Well, I'm going to go virtually hang out with my best friend Kai Ryssdal, the host of NPR's Marketplace, for the weekend, so ya'll won't be hearin' from me for a while. Maybe we'll go pants shopping... 'Cuz that's what friends do...

Everyone's favorite text-waddler,
- Dave

4ECon - September 2007

Ah, yes. Today marks the end of September, the first full month at the 4ECon. While August was fun and all, I'd say September was much more interesting. Time for the lame-excuse-for-a-post monthly summary:

1. The month started off with the first edition of Spicy Science, explaining why you might live forever.

2. Next we exposed the Bed Con for what it is (or isn't...)

3. Then there was the business opportunity suggested by the willingness of iPhone fanboys to pay two arms and three legs for semi-useless technology just for the "cool factor."

4. On September 11th I did a special anniversary allegory that hailed the benefits of losing self control in order to scare a hard-to-handle enemy. Unfortunately, it might have been a little too metaphorical...

5. Another installment of Rock Hard Data aided our understanding of historical and current unemployment data. This was, by far, the most exciting post of the month.

6. I used an idea for a current events-inspired video game with a catchy title in order to subtly suggest my disapproval for the Fed's recent half-point rate cut. It seems the U.S. stock market has proved me correct so far. (if this assertion needs further explanation, check the post's comments and read August's "Molehill" posts - both of 'em.)

7. For the first edition of Topical Cream, I covered Free Trade in a not-so-easily understandable way. It seems that I'm not the best at keeping posts short and educational. I will get better, I swizear.

8. For all the guys & gals out there, I provided my First Date Strategy Guide which offered advice on, among other things, how to keep your date nervous enough to pay less attention to your faults. The Guide is not done yet, though - It needs to be test-driven. Anyone? Wait, don't answer that yet - Wait until I start "Futarchy Personals," a market-information driven dating service. More info to come... It's gonna be super.

9. I argue that Junk Mail might actually be protecting your street-side mailbox from higher rates of theft...

10. Finally, I offer a recommendation on how to better support the Girl Scouts while getting better cookies. Also, if anyone wants to start a business selling home security products, let me know - I've got a clever, not-very-legal idea.

---

And that's it. This post is like the class before your final exams - nothing good, nothing new, just a review and a forum for asking questions or making general comments. The difference here, though, is that I won't know any of the answers to any of your questions, and am completely full of shit.

So, in closing, I'd like to say thank you, loyal due-paying members of the 4EConglomerate for sticking through the second month - I don't know who I'd be writing blog posts to without you. Also, I haven't received any of your dues yet, so.... you know... let's get right on that, OK?

Your favorite hobo,
-Dave

...For Future Generations to Uncover

[Originally Posted Sept. 5th]
Since it's still early in September, I'm still allowed to summarize what went on in Foreecon's first month, August 2007. That list you see on the right side is going to get replaced with "summary/linking posts" like this one, which, if I do say so myself, is an excellent and novel idea. You'll see.

So here goes...

August 2007 in the Con:

1. I declared my interdependence (that's right, I can't do it alone...)
2. What a family of four can afford on one minimum wage income
3. The Beatles get worse every year
4. The piece of paper that Babe Ruth's sale was recorded on is worth more than Babe Ruth
5. Do not buy a house (until you've got 2 whiny teenagers)
6. Crime is going down, not up - So shut up about "the damn teenagers these days..."
7. Dave predicts the short- to medium-term future of U.S. stocks
8. Dave defends his prediction in the battle of Pessimism vs. Fredtimism

Now if you agree that The Beatles suck, and if you think buying a an average-sized house is almost always a bad idea, and that you can leave your doors unlocked, and everything else I've posted, you're free to enjoy this summary and continue on with your life.

However - If you disagree, you're required to read every one of those posts. Sorry, that's just the way it is. Hey! Don't complain to me! I didn't make the rules, I just enforce them.

-Dave