Category: economics

in defence of the French strikers

On By Rick McIn economics, governmentLeave a comment

GOOD NEWS – the tug and pull between labour and management is still healthy in France.

I tried to take a train from Amsterdam to Portugal. It was possible, but tricky, since all the French trains are parked. In the end, I was forced to fly.

My previous train journey had me taking an Italian sleeper train to Paris, … dashing from one rail station to the next by public bus, … and connecting to a Dutch train to Amsterdam. All the French trains were on strike.

Yep, I missed my connection.

But if tourists need suffer to maintain the right of comrades to protest of the government increasing the retirement age from 60 to 62 (MERDE!), so be it.

Worse, age for pension from age 65 to 67. (MERDE MERDE!)


A car was set on fire as students and policemen clashed in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, France on Oct. 18.

Sarkozy, are you an enemy of the people? … Off with your head.

Hey … You can’t make an omelette in France without smashing the chicken coop to smithereens for a few weeks.

Joie de Vie, mon Cheminots amis. I sing L’Internationale with you.

Note: Other travelers, like my friend Blythe, teaching English in France, are not nearly so open minded as moi.

Snake Oil in the Supermarket

On By Rick McIn economics, food, health & fitness, product complaints1 Comment

Scientific American on Greenwashing:

Food-makers should have to prove the validity of their health claims …

In March the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to 17 food and beverage manufacturers concerning false or misleading health and nutrition claims on their products. It was an unusually expansive crackdown for the agency, whose regulatory power over food companies has declined over the past decades, thanks to Congress and the courts, which have tended to come down on the side of the food companies. …

In 2006 Europe began holding food makers to rigorous scientific standards. Since then, the European Food Safety Authority has rejected, on the basis of insufficient evidence, a whopping 80 percent of the more than 900 claims they have assessed thus far. …

Differences between the lenient U.S. system and the more restrictive European system are easily apparent. For instance, visitors to the Web site for Activia (www.activia.com)—a yogurt product from Dannon—will have a very different experience depending on which country they indicate they are from. The U.S. version prominently displays the product’s putative health benefits, asserting that it can “help regulate your digestive system by helping reduce long intestinal transit time.” …

Snake Oil in the Supermarket

I assume over 80% of green packaging and health claims are tainted.

voluntary simplicity is trendy

On By Rick McIn economics, philosophy2 Comments

It was 1990 when Keith Russell first introduced me to the concept of voluntary simplicity aka simple living. He was researching construction of a log house in rural Saskatchewan.

Soon after I adopted it as my personal philosophy.

Garth linked to a related article in the Globe and Mail. Some of the talking points:

… the recession has forced many people to re-evaluate their consumption patterns …

… “Right-sizing” is how she describes her efforts to purge her 1,200-square-foot home of “stuff creep” …

… have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful …

… Give Your Stuff Away Day …

… the Small House Society …

… Sheena Matheiken, a New York creative director who wore the same little black dress for 365 days …

read it – Keeping down with the Joneses

For one thing, we’ve got to get rid of some of these books! … Donate them to a library or something!

the stack shrinks

price of movie rental = $1

On By Rick McIn economics, moviesLeave a comment

The cost of infinitely reproducible digital ‘goods’, transferred via the web, will approach zero.

In the States, McDonalds has dropped the price on very good, fairly recent movies to a dollar a night. And that’s for a DVD with real production and transportation costs.

video kiosk at McDonalds

Some of the big Hollywood production houses try to fight Redbox. A losing battle, I predict.

I want to PAY for my motorcycle accident

On By Rick McIn economics, government4 Comments

Coming from Canada, I’m still shocked at the number of Americans riding hogs without helmets.

… Motorcycle helmets greatly reduce injuries and fatalities in motorcycle accidents, thus many countries have laws requiring acceptable helmets to be worn by motorcycle riders. These laws vary considerably, often exempting mopeds and other small-displacement bikes.

In some countries, most notably the USA and India, there is some opposition to compulsory helmet use …

Ah, right.

In America (and India) FREEDOM is more important than personal safety. Got it.

… Twenty-seven states have a motorcycle helmet law that only require some riders to wear a helmet. Three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire) do not have a motorcycle helmet law. …

Current US motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws

I assume that people forfeit their government and/or corporate insurance if they take a fall without a helmet.

Head Injury

It would be idiotic to expect others to pay for my brain damage, self inflicted.

By the way, does riding a Harley Hog make you fat? … Cause and effect?

I need to start texting …

On By Rick McIn economics, friends5 Comments

Lest I become a dinosaur.

The cost of a cell phone and SMS plan compared to that of a computer and a broadband connection has made texting extremely popular in developing countries, and “unlimited messaging” plans have made it the communication medium of choice for teens everywhere (beating face-to-face conversation and e-mail in popularity). …

Mashable – The Rise of Text Messaging

who’s rich in Aspen, Colorado?

On By Rick McIn economicsLeave a comment

I’m surprised such an affluent town is so unpretentious.

The rich and the (homeless) poor dress equally badly.

… Is the modern western culture the first where it’s so difficult to identify the wealthy? … I like it.

I’ve seen none of the famous residents.

why a FREE MARKET won’t work

On By Rick McIn economics, Google, governmentLeave a comment

In response to Google and Verizon trying to circumvent FCC rules on Net Neutrality:

The Economist:

If companies always agreed with regulators’ rules, there would be no need for regulators. The very point of a regulator is to do things that companies don’t like, out of concern for the welfare of the market or the consumer.

I’ve seen in my lifetime that competition will diminish if markets can do what they like. We end up with oligopoly or, even worse, monopoly.

Oligopoly and monopoly are normally very, very BAD for consumers.

In my opinion we need “regulators” but they should regulate as little as possible, … mainly with the goal of maintaining a high level of competition.

(via one of the best blogs Daring Fireball)

… I’ve got mixed feelings on the Net Neutrality issue, myself. … I’ll support Net Neutrality, for now.