It looks like Ashcroft’s successor is going to successfully annoy absolutely everybody.

The WSJ Econoblog has been pretty interesting this week, if you’d like to see Tyler Cowen beat the hell out of John Irons RE: Trade, go here

Irons falls into the main trap of the anti-globalization wingnuts, namely he thinks pollution havens exist:

But should we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of when countries with lower environmental standards or fewer worker protections beat us in the race to the bottom?

I hold only a BS in Economics, Irons is a Ph.D., he should know better than this. Pollution havens do not happen in the real world because the ability for countries to change tax policy exists. Do some countries have lower environmental standards? Yes, yes they do, but those standards will not be changed to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) because lowering taxes achieves a higher net welfare gain. Lower taxes decrease government revenue, but don’t allow additional negative externalities, and still manage to attract FDI. Furthermore, environmental regulations can be thought of as a luxury good: once you have a sufficient level of income you tend to pollute less. See Also: Environmental Kuznets Curve.

Cowan’s money quote, which is right on:

Poor countries should not have the same environmental and labor standards that the U.S. does; they simply cannot afford them and do not have the requisite legal structures to enforce them. The best way to improve their standards is to help them grow rich, so outsourcing is part of the solution in this regard. And outsourcing no more destroys American jobs than does technical progress.

According to the IMDB, Michael Moores next movie, entitled Sicko, will focus on mental health care in the US. However, todays Variety jut announced that Moore is planning a sequel to his box-office obliterating documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.

Said Moore: “We want to get cameras rolling now and have it ready in two-three years. We want to document and commercialize it. Fifty-one percent of the American people lacked information (in this election) and we want to educate and enlighten them. They weren’t told the truth. We’re communicators and it’s up to us to start doing it now. The official mourning period is over today and there is a silver lining — George W. Bush is prohibited by law from running again.”

If Moore’s film career ever fizzles out, I’m sure he could find a job patronizing and condescending Middle America for the Guardian.

It is a glorious day, because ding-dong:
ARAFAT IS DEAD

UPDATE: A more fitting epitaph. It’s nice to see somebody out there gets it.

All right, I’m down to pretty much two places in my quest to find a domicile now that I am employed starting Monday. One is much larger, slightly more expensive, and in a slightly worse location. The other is brand new, in a better location, smaller, and slightly cheaper. The former has a devilishly cute blonde girl as the leasing agent, the latter has a devilishly cute brunette as same. I’m pretty much indifferent, so I’m going to let y’all help me out.

Poll after the cut.

Here Be Housing!

Blonde or Brunette? BLONDE! BRUNETTE! Current Results

The line between personal beliefs and medical ethics is being crossed as states are pushing and passing legislation that allows pharmicists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions.

States should be allowed to pass their own laws as federal legislation permits, and individuals, such as doctors, have the right to make their own decisions in how they act in their profession (e.g. not giving as many painkillers as a suspected addict wants).

However, birth control pills do not equal abortion. Terminating a pregnancy is abortion, yes. Preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs, no. Not abortion. Oh how I look forward to the consequences of abstinence-only sex education.

This sentiment is exactly right for Eugene, the office will be getting some bumperstickers courtesy yours truly.

Lauren directed me to this article on an Ohio news channel’s website. It is, I believe, the pinnacle of headline writing.

Yasser Arafat still lingers near death, I guess evil is hard to kill, but this quote from “a source close to the Palestinian leadership” is priceless:

The source said Arafat may not face imminent death, but his death is a only matter of time.

That’s a universally true statement, now, isn’t it? I just wish Arafat would hurry the hell up and get planted in the ground so I can commence dancing on his grave.

In light of the recent same-sex marriage barring in Oregon, I think we pustulant, repulsive Americans should really think about how ignorant and stupid we are. We should also try to become more civilized, more like Europe.

Now, I have no need of a razor with four blades. I barely have to shave more than once a week as is, and I’m not going after anything that would require mucho effort to shear. So, I’ve decided to give away this poor little wayward razor. After winning seven unappreciated cans of Coca-Cola C2 in a contest over on Welcome To Blog, I thought I’d give something back, something shiny and good for cutting.

So, A CONTEST! Today is Monday, I start work at my new banking job next Monday, it is 10:42 PM CST as I write this, so let’s say the deadline for entries is next Monday, November 15th, at 11pm CST (9pm Pacific). I shall give this poor wayward razor to the contestant who either comes up with the next great improvement to a product that’s fine already or photoshops the poor little razor into the most compromising position. Only entries posted in comments will be considered, hilarity is encouraged. BEGIN!

UPDATE: Blog has pointed out that our comments do not allow pictures to be posted to them, so picture entries can be emailed to nothf at yahoo dot com. Text entries should be posted for the “entertainment” of our “readers.”

I’m sure the journalists snicker every time they write this one up.

Might want to rethink any possible names for this company, Al. I don’t think investors would be too keen on such violence. Then again… it is kind of catchy. Is there a Mr. Guts signing on to your staff in the near future?

I know most of you have probably seen those election maps floating around the internet with their red, blue and purple hues.

Well, this one made by researchers at the University of Michigan adds another ingredient to the formula. It takes into account the population of each county, and morphs a map the U.S. appropriately. The result is a funky looking, warped version of our nation. Long Island itself is as big as Oregon and Washington combined, and the Midwest is about as thin as heroin addict’s waistline.

You’ve probably seen this elsewhere, but the WSJ Online is running an econoblogging feature this week. It’s pretty interesting an informative at the moment, the current discussion is on Social Security. I do want to point out what I see as a major flaw in John Irons’ (the “liberal” econoblogger they’ve recruited) thinking about social security:

The right way to think about the system is not “what do I get out of it,” but rather, “how do we as a society wish to treat our elderly?”

{snip}

Again, we need to think about the system as how we, as a civil society, want to treat our elderly — ensuring (and insuring) a modest income during retirement is the right thing to do. It is a “good deal” because we get a lot out of the system.

Why shouldn’t we restructure social security as a welfare program? Because what we’re doing is the “right thing” of course! It doesn’t matter if it’s massively expensive, it’s right! We must find a way to fund it! Furthermore, it’s the government’s job to provide for the lifestyle of the old! Private investment has fundamental flaws! Geesh. Irons is at least more like Brad DeLong than like Paul Krugman. DeLong might be wrong pretty often, but he’s at least civil and readable most days.

And remember, kids, TOTALLY ROCKING is the solution to all of life’s little problems.

UPDATED: Jesus Christ, I’m sorry guys, the original link went someplace very naughty that I hadn’t intended, and as I got it from a friend via AIM, it works as a cut and paste. The new link above is what I meant for y’all to see, just click on “watch this movie.” It includes the Megaman theme, y’all remember Megaman, he’s blue and family friendly! Man, what’s the CN going to think about that? Geebus.