....to get stuck with the Sonics when the Hornets are free again??
As King noted on SCSU, the Hornets have agreed on a ransom amount for their eventual escape from New Orleans. We'd LOVE to have them back, CP3 and Tyson and Peja; heck we'll even take Byron Scott if he promises not to make any more commercials for Cox Communications! Basically the Hornets can go free if they fail to average 14,000+ in attendance over the next two years. They are currently averaging around 11,000. They averaged around 17,000 here in OKC.
However, because Clay Bennett has already filed relocation papers for the Sonics to come to OKC (despite their longish remaining lease in Seattle) we can't get the Hornets back! So sick.
Hornets: 23-12, Sonics: 9-26. Plus, Kevin Durant is learning some bad habits, leading the team by far in minutes and shots while shooting 40% from the field (30% for 3s), only getting 4.4 boards per game and averaging more turnovers than assists (3 to 2). Ouch.
The ultimate bad beat situation is the Sonics come here and then the Hornets relocate to Seattle!! It could happen, people.
LOL, Mrs. Angus looking over my shoulder informs me that the actual ultimate bad beat is that no one comes to OKC. I guess she hasn't factored in us buying Sonic tickets and me driving her crazy complaining about Kevin Durant's shot selection for the forseeable future!!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Um....Is Their Biggest Model Called "The Bodacious"?
So, there is this Indian car company. It makes Tatas.
In fact, the company is betting that the key to prosperity
is having very small Tatas, because then everybody can get their
hands on ... one.
A game? Come up with ad slogans:
"Get your hands on our Tatas!"
"The Tata Bodacious: Our high beams are ALWAYS on."
Try it. It's fun!
In fact, the company is betting that the key to prosperity
is having very small Tatas, because then everybody can get their
hands on ... one.
A game? Come up with ad slogans:
"Get your hands on our Tatas!"
"The Tata Bodacious: Our high beams are ALWAYS on."
Try it. It's fun!
Relax Ben: Gisele Still takes greenbacks!
The Fed breathed a huge sigh of relief today upon finding out that the dollar is much stronger than previously thought. Specifically, that Super-Models still accept it for payment.Bundchen said: "The story of the euro is a lie," she told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo in comments published Wednesday. "I work with many international companies, I earn salaries in different currencies, that's all."
What's Hot in Economics
The Facebook for Economists, aka REPEC, has released its list of the most cited papers in the last five years (by papers posted at REPEC). And what a lovely list it is. People, it's all Macro and Econometrics!
Look at the top 5:
Christiano Eichenbaum & Evans: A DSGE Macro paper
Im, Peseran & Shin: Applied Econometrics, Panel unit root tests
Obstfeld & Rogoff: Puzzles of International Macro
Bils & Klenow: the importance of Sticky prices
Anderson & Van Winkoop: the gravity model of trade
Throughout the whole list, there's very little theory, very little IO, very little Public.
Tyler says it's because micro is fragmented and macro has a common core.
I think it's because empirical macro is what the great majority of economists are actually interested in and work on. The internet lets economists from non-top schools and developing countries post their work, and once one gets past the sweet icing layer of top-ranked schools, theory is just not very interesting or important to people residing down in the cake.
This dude says the work in the list is not impressive: "Are these the future classics? Are these the papers that will lead to Nobel Prize? I do not see anything that really strikes me. The only marginal candidate I see is Anderson and van Wincoop's "Gravity with Gravitas." Is there really nothing groundbreaking written nowadays?"
I disagree. Christiano et. al is a seminal paper that set the terms of current debate in DSGE macro modelling. Smets and Wouters paper is groundbreaking in using MCMC methods to estimate DSGE models (along with the work of Frank Schorfheide). Reinhart and Rogoff along with Levy-Yeyati and Sturzenegger have changed how we view and measure exchange rate regimes with their distinction between defacto and dejure regimes. Bai and Perron's paper on multiple structural breaks has opened up a whole new way to look at and model macro time series data.
There is some excellent economics being done these days indeed.
Look at the top 5:
Christiano Eichenbaum & Evans: A DSGE Macro paper
Im, Peseran & Shin: Applied Econometrics, Panel unit root tests
Obstfeld & Rogoff: Puzzles of International Macro
Bils & Klenow: the importance of Sticky prices
Anderson & Van Winkoop: the gravity model of trade
Throughout the whole list, there's very little theory, very little IO, very little Public.
Tyler says it's because micro is fragmented and macro has a common core.
I think it's because empirical macro is what the great majority of economists are actually interested in and work on. The internet lets economists from non-top schools and developing countries post their work, and once one gets past the sweet icing layer of top-ranked schools, theory is just not very interesting or important to people residing down in the cake.
This dude says the work in the list is not impressive: "Are these the future classics? Are these the papers that will lead to Nobel Prize? I do not see anything that really strikes me. The only marginal candidate I see is Anderson and van Wincoop's "Gravity with Gravitas." Is there really nothing groundbreaking written nowadays?"
I disagree. Christiano et. al is a seminal paper that set the terms of current debate in DSGE macro modelling. Smets and Wouters paper is groundbreaking in using MCMC methods to estimate DSGE models (along with the work of Frank Schorfheide). Reinhart and Rogoff along with Levy-Yeyati and Sturzenegger have changed how we view and measure exchange rate regimes with their distinction between defacto and dejure regimes. Bai and Perron's paper on multiple structural breaks has opened up a whole new way to look at and model macro time series data.
There is some excellent economics being done these days indeed.
Just got this email:
Your shipment Sir/ Madam, Christmas/New year Shipment Bonanza Sir/ Madam Due to the ongoing swift Christmas funfair all charges as regards to the delivering of your ATM/Check have been suspended, which includes any clearance charges and insurance coverage. You have been issued a part payment valued at US$860,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars). All you are required to do now is to pay for the delivery of your parcel to one of office local offices in West African Countries (Nigeria) via Courier Services which is just $175. You are advised to contact - Mr. Patrick Sullivan at email: "engr_sullivan1@login.cz" for the courier fee payment and delivery update. This is organized by British Government in support of US and Nigerian Government. Thanks Mr. John William Adams British International Monetary Regulations London
Now, when I was young, the Nigerian email scammers had a little class, made a little effort. People took pride in their work. A good Nigerian spam scam was worth reading.
This thing, this piece of crap, this quatsch...what the hell? These kids today.
Your shipment Sir/ Madam, Christmas/New year Shipment Bonanza Sir/ Madam Due to the ongoing swift Christmas funfair all charges as regards to the delivering of your ATM/Check have been suspended, which includes any clearance charges and insurance coverage. You have been issued a part payment valued at US$860,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars). All you are required to do now is to pay for the delivery of your parcel to one of office local offices in West African Countries (Nigeria) via Courier Services which is just $175. You are advised to contact - Mr. Patrick Sullivan at email: "engr_sullivan1@login.cz" for the courier fee payment and delivery update. This is organized by British Government in support of US and Nigerian Government. Thanks Mr. John William Adams British International Monetary Regulations London
Now, when I was young, the Nigerian email scammers had a little class, made a little effort. People took pride in their work. A good Nigerian spam scam was worth reading.
This thing, this piece of crap, this quatsch...what the hell? These kids today.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The Best Sentences I've Read Today
From an unlikely source, Maureen Dowd at the NYT:
"Her argument against Obama now boils down to an argument against idealism, which is probably the lowest and most unlikely point to which any Clinton could sink. The people from Hope are arguing against hope."
"Her argument against Obama now boils down to an argument against idealism, which is probably the lowest and most unlikely point to which any Clinton could sink. The people from Hope are arguing against hope."
She's Ba-ack!
Wow, sorry for the premature obituary. Hillary made up an alleged 10 point deficit by decisively winning the votes of women (by 13 percentage points, which she failed to do in Iowa), and by McCain's siphoning off some of the independent vote from Obama. In retrospect, this second phenomenon should have been predictable, sorry I got carried away. It does seem like curtains now for John Edwards though, doesn't it?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Another Dookie Steps in it
Golf Channel anchor says young golfers should 'lynch Tiger Woods'
Should I mention that she was a political science major? Probably not.
For Fiscal Stimulus
My friend and colleague Alex argues against a "fiscal stimulus" for the economy. I respectfully conditionally disagree on starve the beast grounds. I am hoping for tax cuts or at least the permanentization of existing "cuts". Not temporary or targeted cuts, just cuts. Not sayin' they'll have their intended short run business cycle effects, just sayin' I like cuts whatever the reason.
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