Are these something from nothing? I seem to think so. This is why I found this advice odd. CN Traveler claims that 1 mile is worth about 1.2 cents (although estimates from SmartTraveler are higher). But then it says:
12. Don't squander your miles. Save them for special trips or expensive flights—don't waste them on tickets you can buy for a few hundred dollars.
13. Save your upgrades for flights on which premium class is truly premium. Use them on long-haul routes, say, or to upgrade to first class on a three-class airplane.
My thought was just to use the miles for whatever trip I'd like to take (long or short) before they expire. Irrational?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Making trains run on time
In Thomas McCraw's Prophet of Innovation: Joseph Schumpeter and creative destruction, he brings up the notion that Mussolini was admired because he was able to make trains run on time. This is disputed on Snopes but it was coincidental for me to be reading this at the same time that a debate was raging on Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism. McCraw points out that Mussolini was much admired for what he was able to get done even by FDR while Schumpeter himself was suspicious of FDR, thinking that FDR would turn the US into an authoritarian state and cites several examples where it seems like FDR was trying to do just that.
In any case, I thought it was a timely reminder that perhaps all rulers try to become authoritarian thinking paternalistically that it is best for the nation. Thinking also perhaps that if they had the right tools they too can make the trains run on time. And the descent into authoritarianism is not so difficult to conceive as it was easy in the days of J. Edgar Hoover to use patriotism to defend one's actions (as it is post 9/11).
The Washington Post's "obituary" of Suharto is a reminder of the virtues of authoritarianism but the big question is whether authoritarians can remain virtuous. I think we know the answer to that (save for Lee Kuan Yew whose history has yet to be rewritten).
In any case, I thought it was a timely reminder that perhaps all rulers try to become authoritarian thinking paternalistically that it is best for the nation. Thinking also perhaps that if they had the right tools they too can make the trains run on time. And the descent into authoritarianism is not so difficult to conceive as it was easy in the days of J. Edgar Hoover to use patriotism to defend one's actions (as it is post 9/11).
The Washington Post's "obituary" of Suharto is a reminder of the virtues of authoritarianism but the big question is whether authoritarians can remain virtuous. I think we know the answer to that (save for Lee Kuan Yew whose history has yet to be rewritten).
Arab season
When we were visiting Kuala Lumpur last summer, we were introduced to the phrase "Arab season". The room service folks apologized whenever they were late (well into the evening) because it was "Arab season" and the hotel was fully booked. (We stayed at Lanson Place several miles from KLCC.) We were told by friends that it was one of the more polite terms -- other more derisive one being Ninja season.
Here is one story based on googling "Arab Season":
Tired of post-9/11 hassles, Arab tourists head east
"Fearful of a frosty reception in the West, well-heeled Muslims from the Middle East are heading to Malaysia in droves for their annual vacations. Arrivals from Saudi Arabia rose 53 percent in the first half of 2004, and hoteliers are predicting a bumper "Arab season" through September."
Here is one story based on googling "Arab Season":
Tired of post-9/11 hassles, Arab tourists head east
"Fearful of a frosty reception in the West, well-heeled Muslims from the Middle East are heading to Malaysia in droves for their annual vacations. Arrivals from Saudi Arabia rose 53 percent in the first half of 2004, and hoteliers are predicting a bumper "Arab season" through September."
Income volatility: Is it all about the which data we use?
It sounds like it to me. Which data set is more "representative"? Which unit (household or individual) should this be studied?
Unfortunately, this debate also points to several things:
1. Failure of statistics to be able to settle the question of "representative"?
2. Failure of economic reasoning to be able to settle on the unit of analysis?
The CBO and Jacob Hacker seem to part ways and stick with the data that support their conclusions and at the same time pointing to each other's data as being the incorrect one. What a wonderful state of affairs.
Unfortunately, this debate also points to several things:
1. Failure of statistics to be able to settle the question of "representative"?
2. Failure of economic reasoning to be able to settle on the unit of analysis?
The CBO and Jacob Hacker seem to part ways and stick with the data that support their conclusions and at the same time pointing to each other's data as being the incorrect one. What a wonderful state of affairs.
Friday, January 25, 2008
How can capitalism be kind?
I was reminded today about my previous post about Bill Gates' call for a kinder capitalism when reading the following:
"The capitalist achievement does not typically consist in providing more silk stockings for queens but in bringing them within the reach of factory girls in return for steadily decreasing amounts of effort ... the capitalist process, not by coincidence but by virtue of its mechanism, progressively raises the standard of life of the masses."
Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (pp. 67-68)
"The capitalist achievement does not typically consist in providing more silk stockings for queens but in bringing them within the reach of factory girls in return for steadily decreasing amounts of effort ... the capitalist process, not by coincidence but by virtue of its mechanism, progressively raises the standard of life of the masses."
Joseph Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy (pp. 67-68)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Why I think Bill Gates' call for a kinder capitalism rings hollow
Despite, Bill Gates call: "We have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier people serve poorer people as well" there is one reason I doubt his conviction. There is capitalism the Bill Gates way and there is capitalism of another nature -- software piracy. Software pirates after all are entrepreneurs too and there is no doubt that Microsoft works hard at destroying their livelihoods.
Microsoft sells Microsoft Office for over $300. If Bill Gates were serious about technology helping the poor, he can use Microsoft's clout to do so. If he believes that the poor can be helped by cheaper technology then he can give it away for free or charge $1. Every time a new version of MSOffice is released, I challenge Microsoft to make the earlier release available for free or for $1. This is of course, if he really believes that technology can help the poor. Or if he believes that producing software for the poor can be profitable, then he can charge $1. Or he can recruit all the would be software pirates to be his distributors.
Microsoft sells Microsoft Office for over $300. If Bill Gates were serious about technology helping the poor, he can use Microsoft's clout to do so. If he believes that the poor can be helped by cheaper technology then he can give it away for free or charge $1. Every time a new version of MSOffice is released, I challenge Microsoft to make the earlier release available for free or for $1. This is of course, if he really believes that technology can help the poor. Or if he believes that producing software for the poor can be profitable, then he can charge $1. Or he can recruit all the would be software pirates to be his distributors.
Excel charts for data visualization and exploration
Along the way from the previous post, I also came across an interesting discussion of charting EU household expenditures. Following the thread, I discovered Excel was able to do this and this. Some tips here and here.
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