Rotundus.com

Not quite sure how deadly cougars actually are, but by and large people seem terrible at estimating how likely certain types of events are to take place. The stereotypical example would probably be sharks... they really don't kill many people.

Why heavier people should pay more to fly

"Since 2000, the extra loading that an average adult passenger carries is about 2 kilos. So what does this increase mean for additional fuel consumption on a big, modern aircraft like the A380? On a route like Sydney to London via Singapore, it means around 3.72 extra barrels of jetfuel per flight is burnt, which at current prices cost about $472."

The NYPD Zagat Guide to Newark’s Best (and Most Threatening) Muslim Restaurants

"... the AP broke the news that the New York Police Department had spent months spying on Muslims in Newark, N.J. ... we've re-arranged some of the dry NYPD 'notes,' Zagat-style, to bring you: The NYPD Guide to Newark's Best Muslim Restaurants."

The Statistical Significance of Beer

"... Gosset (1876–1937) aka “Student” – he of Student’s t-table and test of statistical significance – rejected artificial rules about sample size, experimental design, and the level of significance, and took instead an economic approach to the logic of decisions made under uncertainty. In his job as Apprentice Brewer, Head Experimental Brewer, and finally Head Brewer of Guinness, Student produced small samples of experimental barley, malt, and hops, seeking guidance for industrial quality control and maximum expected profit at the large-scale brewery. In the process Student invented or inspired half of modern statistics." So it seems that statistics owes a lot to beer.

Food tax: Adding GST to food will benefit the poor, economists say

The basic argument here seems to be that though the poor spend a higher percentage of their income on food, the rich spend more dollars on it. The article proposes that "with the added revenue from taxed food, governments might lower the sales tax rate to 2 or 4 per cent as well as increase the low-income tax credit." Still not quite sure if I buy the whole argument - how likely would a boost in, e.g., the low-income tax credit, at time of implementation have in the long-term? Often these things end up just as line items in the government's general revenue / general expenses and can easily be independently adjusted at a later date.

I was somewhat amused by the store (Lenscrafters?) selling lenses - which apparently per the guy who'd gotten out of the business cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $2-$5 for $389. Seems typical for the industry. Way too expensive. Been wearing glasses from Clearly Contacts for a few years.

See the story here - I hate videos that autoplay.

Stephen Harper’s penchant for spicy food starts Beijing soup craze

"... a few days after Harper left the Chinese capital, Canadian Embassy staff began hearing rumours that the restaurant was now doing brisk business in a dish translated as 'Harper’s Elbows.'"

America is Europe

"The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently calculated how much each affluent country spends on social programs. When you include both direct spending and tax expenditures, the U.S. has one of the biggest welfare states in the world. We rank behind Sweden and ahead of Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Canada. Social spending in the U.S. is far above the organization’s average." ... the article then goes on to describe how funky tax breaks to random organizations seem to accomplish the same things as official expenditures do in other countries.

To Nap or Not to Nap

NY Times Room for Debate: "Should people be encouraged -- by their doctors, employers, teachers -- to take short naps during the day? Would Americans be more productive if they did?" I generally vote "no" personally to napping, although it doesn't seem a bad idea.

Resilient BC Tech Sector Forecasts 3,000 New Jobs

How dependent is Canada on the resource sector? "The tech sector now employs more British Columbians than the forestry, mining, and oil and gas sectors combined"