Archive for April, 2008
Economics and Politics as Choice Architecture
Some years back, I passed through Schiphol in Amsterdam and realized why some designers consider it the world’s finest airport. Its layout is logical and efficient, public internet terminals are numerous and free, and the stores, including a full 24/7 supermarket, are so attractive that locals come to the airport to shop. But it was [...]
Deep Shia
Is it just me or are Barack Obama and the rest of the Democrats starting to walk backwards on the question of Iraq? Hard to tell, since increasingly the only way to understand the war in Iraq is to listen to what is not being said by national political leaders. Robert Gates is promoting David [...]
Barry and Bryant on Basketball
A terrific profile on the role of basketball in "Barry" Obama’s past. Some fine archival footage, a relaxed candidate who loves the game and knows his limits, and a wonderful discussion with Craig Patterson, Michele Obama’s brother and a former star at Princeton who just left Brown to head hoops at Oregon State.
Is Obama Clinton's Moonwalking Bear?
Future historians will debate how in the world an experienced politician like Hillary Clinton failed to see Barack Obama until it was too late. Perhaps Americans are too close to the situation to realize just how surprising Obama has been to Clinton. Germany illustrated the dynamic at a recent parade: The British however, came closer [...]
Media Wants to Be Digital, Downloadable, and Free
Mooreâs Law famously describes an important trend in computer processing power: the number of transistors that can be inexpensively placed on an integrated circuit increases exponentially. Specifically, Intel founder Gordon Moore observed that chip density doubles about every two years. Thanks to Mooreâs Law, computer processing is now free for most intents and purposes. Metcalfeâs [...]
