Random links
- Outdated Laws and Subsidies—How Did It Get So Bad?
- Political incentives ... "It happens so slowly and naturally that no one notices. Legislators want to prove that they care about children, seniors, veterans, etc. by creating programs to benefit them. Elected officials are so busy campaigning that they (and their staffs) don't review the statute books to see which programs already exist. They certainly don't check to see which ones are working, and which are not. As a result, each new generation of politicians simply adds another layer of spending and bureaucracy. ... Conversely, there's little or no reward in repealing laws, only the risk of offending people who benefit from the existing programs."
- Another good reason to lay off the pop
- "Drinking pop has been linked to a long list of ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. Now, a new study says it may lead to stroke. ... Too much pop might even kill you. This week, a pathologist testified at an inquest that a New Zealand woman’s excessive Coca-Cola consumption – up to 10 litres a day – likely contributed to her death." I'm still astounded that anyone could drink that much of anything - and wonder if drinking 10 litres of water a day might also be harmful. (Though 8 glasses of water a day is mythical, even drinking 8 glasses a day would give you less than 2 litres of water - basically you'd need to be drinking 40 glasses of liquid to amount to 10 litres).
- A Video Game Designed to Treat Depression Worked Better Than Counseling
- This study evaluated "a video game they designed to help treat depression in teenage kids against traditional face-to-face counseling. Called SPARX, the game guides the players through a number of challenges that help practice handling various life situations and emotions that come with them."
- Bicycle helmet
- "Although the link is not causal, it is observed that the countries with the best cycle safety records (Denmark and the Netherlands) have among the lowest levels of helmet use. Their bicycle safety record is generally attributed to public awareness and understanding of cyclists, safety in numbers, education, and cycling infrastructure."