Gang Leader for a Day is the latest in a long line of books I've read this year that were about something different than I expected. I thought it'd be the story of the notebook of data Sudhir Venkatesh got from the treasurer of a crack-dealing gang in the Chicago projects, as mentioned in Freakonomics. Instead, it's the story behind how Venkatesh ( Read more... )

I've been disappointed with the NY Public Library's TNG programs - until Weds. The patrons are still funny-looking and unfashionably dressed, but they took us backstage. ( You should check out the Gutenberg currently on display on the third floor )

I think it's pretty cool that while all the local and government websites are pretty hosed, Google Maps is hosting a neat tool for seeing where the fires are currently burning. (If that doesn't work, try Googling for fire map and hitting the "sponsored link" at the top of the page.) It's zoom-able, of course, and has updates on evacuations, where ( Read more... )

I was irritated to wake up in the dark, even though I set the wrong alarm and woke a half hour late. But I was really irritated to get outside and realize the reason it was dark was bc it was damp and drizzling. I considered going to the gym for my run, but thought, "Hey, maybe it'll clear up." Oops. I was soaked by the time I got back. Still ( Read more... )

Y'know, the more I think about Tierney's "Flaw-O-Matic" theory as to why New Yorkers take so long to find a mate in terms of my own life, the more I think he's got a point: compliments from someone who has many choices I'd hit make me dance a jig. Maybe this is why my relatives keep telling me to stop being so bloody picky and get married already ( Read more... )

Y'know what's fun? Discovering just after you've finished buying your plane ticket that your flight has an on-time record of 13%. I guess that's why sane people don't fly to Chicago twice before Memorial Day.

Anybody know how to turn something like this into a syndicated feed on LJ? (Yes, I know there already is a Instapundit feed on LJ, I'm talking about something LIKE it.) I've been finding so many interesting blogs lately and I'm now hip deep in things I keep meaning to add to my reading list ( Read more... )

Scott Adams is a pretty smart guy. How smart is he? In this post, he gives his "Mad Money" take on a variety of topics. I like his answer to "Most futuristic thing you wish would be invented now?". Let's just say it would change the face of riot control forever *coughs*

The quote of the month came from a PhD with whom I work: yes; by 2050 ( Read more... )

Went to Mr. K's last night with the 'rents. Very elegant Chinese food that takes too long to serve, which works well when you're at a banquet and not so well when you're tired from a long day at work. I also have issues with elegant Chinese food - for me, authentic Chinese food will always come from Chinatown. *shrugs ( Read more... )

Incidentally, in case anyone is interested, these are my current favorite statistics:

* "By the time [the Dutch East India Company] was wound up in 1796 it had paid on average an annual return of 18 per cent on the orignal capital subscribed" (Empire, pg 18-19). D00d, that's 18% over 194 years. By comparison, the S&P 500 has returned 8.4% over ( Read more... )