New semester, new purposes

January 18, 2010
By Peter

I’ve been pretty lax about keeping up with the blog, and I am teaching a research seminar this semester on pricing in art markets. I’m likely to turn the blog over to that purpose for awhile, so if there are dramatic changes that you find unappealing, you could wander away if you like. Or,...
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HP computers are racist

December 21, 2009
By Peter

Don’t be afraid of black people, HP. (via Waxy)
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Now that’s a lurker

December 20, 2009
By Peter

Congratulations, Jessie and Buck. More evidence that this column will persist even as the American Era comes to a sweet, languorous end.
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The downgrading of UPS

December 16, 2009
By Peter

We love our UPS driver, Frank. Since we moved to NYC, while most services that we dealt with were kind of a hassle, our UPS service was wonderful. I was thinking this all week, especially with the extra holiday traffic. UPS does its shit well. But this past week I went to change a delivery...
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Thanksgiving Wrap-up – the good, the bad, and the prison toilet

November 29, 2009
By Peter

Another Thanksgiving in the books, and this year there is lots to be thankful for. And not: The flights. Generally ok, though we got caught by Thanksgiving rush/weather craziness over Charlotte, NC (we left on Thurs at dawn, due to insane price-gouging on Wed-Sun airline ticket pricing). Apparently, it was nice up the entire Eastern...
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Moral hazard, via dumb commercials

November 25, 2009
By Peter

Another commercial which I’ve always wondered about is this one for Traveler’s insurance: The trouble with the commercial is that the dog, after seeking out ways to protect his most prized possession, finds a solution in purchasing insurance. Keep it on your person? Too hard. Put it in a bank? Too risky. But with insurance,...
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