Common Sense with Bari Weiss $5 / month

Common Sense with Bari Weiss critiques contemporary issues impacting society from the perspectives of free speech, scientific inquiry, and cultural shifts. It explores themes around gender dysphoria, debate censorship, autism, personal values, public controversies, mental health, political correctness, scientific skepticism, cultural identity, historical context, and societal purpose.

Free Speech and Censorship Gender and Identity Education and Debate Health and Science Cultural and Social Issues Mental Health Politics and Public Opinion Historical and Cultural Identity Personal Values and Purpose Science and Skepticism

The hottest Substack posts of Common Sense with Bari Weiss

And their main takeaways

It Could Be an Interesting Election

0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 15
  1. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump considering running as independents could impact the election.
  2. Sanders appeals to the left wing, while Trump's appeal is seen as more personal.
  3. Major parties may need to adjust their strategies if both Sanders and Trump run.

Doing Something

0 implied HN points • 30 Aug 15
  1. Presidential candidate suggesting a wall on the Canadian border to deter illegal immigration and terrorists.
  2. Questioning the effectiveness of filtering out bad actors among the 75 million tourists that visit the U.S. annually.
  3. Highlighting the flawed logic of feeling compelled to take action just for the sake of doing something.

Teaching Statistics with World of Warcraft

0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 09
  1. Using World of Warcraft for teaching statistics can provide real-life examples for students to understand and apply statistical inference.
  2. Statistical analysis, specifically Bayesian statistics, can be used to determine whether observed patterns in a game are due to actual changes or random chance.
  3. Understanding probabilities and using Bayes' Theorem can help interpret statistical results more accurately in various scenarios.

Why Only New Toys?

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 12
  1. Some people request only new toys for donations to children in need.
  2. The author questions why the requirement for new toys exists, considering many people have used toys to give away.
  3. The author ponders if the new toy requirement could be due to pride, legal restrictions, or pressure from toy companies.

The Claim that the "Missing Heat" is Going into the Oceans

0 implied HN points • 22 Feb 14
  1. One argument is that 'missing heat' from global warming is stored in the ocean, not pausing climate change.
  2. Calculations suggest we may not have accurate data to confirm this claim.
  3. Data on ocean heat content shows a slower rate of increase, contradicting expectations of faster warming if 'missing heat' went into the ocean.
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An Explanation for the Pattern of Warming

0 implied HN points • 21 Sep 15
  1. Global warming shows a rising trend with another cause superimposed every sixty years.
  2. Different trends sometimes cancel each other out, leading to stable temperatures.
  3. Patterns of warming can be better understood by considering recurring multidecadal oscillations.

CAGW and Consensus

0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 15
  1. Richard Tol's article estimated net cost of warming effects.
  2. Estimated welfare impact of warming at 3°C could be a 10% reduction.
  3. RCP8.5 scenario predicts a combination of welfare decrease and economic growth due to warming.

Airline Safety: Precautions or Placebo?

0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 09
  1. Recent successful ditching of airliner in Hudson was a first for large passenger jets.
  2. Prior to this incident, crash landings were the closest anyone had come with full-sized passenger jets.
  3. Questions raised about the effectiveness of airline safety precautions like life vests and flotation devices.

Why Do I Waste Time Arguing With Unreasonable People Online?

0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 15
  1. Arguing online can sometimes be a distraction from other tasks.
  2. Engaging in online discussions can help share ideas and reach new audiences.
  3. Finding reasonable people to engage with online is rare but can be rewarding.

Uber adds a feature ...

0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 15
  1. Uber introduced a new feature for drivers to pick up riders headed in the same direction.
  2. The feature resembles the jitney transit system described in a book by David Friedman in 1973.
  3. This new feature provides a convenient and efficient way for Uber drivers to optimize their routes.

Ways of Changing the World

0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 09
  1. In large population societies, changing the dynamics of the system's incentives is crucial for achieving different outcomes.
  2. Democracy works with coarse and fine controls - majority voting and special interest lobbying - driven by free information.
  3. Influencing the free information available to voters can impact political outcomes, making it a valuable approach for academics and influencers.

Economics as a Unifier of Law: A True Story

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 12
  1. The optimal reward for inventors or penalty for criminals is not just based on the value of their actions, but also on the costs involved in giving the reward or enforcing the penalty.
  2. Economics offers a unifying framework that can be applied to various legal fields, showing that similar principles and logic can be used across different areas of law.
  3. Applying economic analysis can help in determining the most efficient and effective approach in legal decision-making.

Security Theater

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 15
  1. There is no practical way to prevent terrorists from attacking if they are willing to die.
  2. The focus on security measures may be more for show than actual effectiveness.
  3. The argument that admitting Syrian refugees poses a security risk overlooks the existing risk from other sources.

Trudeau and Putin: Ideology vs Interest

0 implied HN points • 30 Nov 15
  1. Global warming can have different effects on countries based on their climate and geographic location.
  2. Canada may benefit from global warming by expanding its habitable area.
  3. Russia, with its long arctic boundary, may have a different perspective on global warming.

Read then Listen or Listen then Read

0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 09
  1. Consider assigning reading after the relevant class instead of before to reinforce ideas and give students a second chance to understand.
  2. Students who do the assigned reading may already know the answers or conclusions being discussed in class.
  3. Allowing students to read the chapter after the first class but before the second can keep material fresh for class discussions and provide an opportunity to ask questions.

The Map from Salamander

0 implied HN points • 04 Feb 12
  1. A map of the College is now available online.
  2. The map is not as nice as the one for Harald.
  3. The map shows where everything is located.

SWAT Raids, Search Warrants, Perjury, and the Criminal Law

0 implied HN points • 03 Jan 16
  1. The SWAT raid was part of a PR stunt called 'Operation Constant Gardener.'
  2. The field test used to identify the tea as marijuana had a high rate of false positives.
  3. Using civil law may be more effective in disciplining state actors than criminal law.

The VP and the Power of Tie Breaking

0 implied HN points • 03 May 09
  1. The power of the VP to break ties in the Senate might seem small, but it can actually be significant
  2. The probability of the VP's vote affecting the outcome of a motion is equal to the common probability p
  3. The voting power of the VP, when choosing to exercise it, is half that of an ordinary senator

Query for Readers of The Machinery of Freedom

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 12
  1. Author is considering creating a new edition of the book by adding a new section instead of rewriting the entire book.
  2. New material in the third edition relates to parts of the old material, so there is a question of how to integrate them.
  3. Options for integrating new and old material include combining chapters, having a separate part for new material, or interspersing the old and new material.

John Cook's Response to My Criticism

0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 14
  1. John Cook responded to a criticism by David Friedman, but didn't address the main point of the criticism.
  2. David Friedman's main objection was that the 97% figure Cook referenced didn't accurately represent the data.
  3. There is speculation as to whether Cook deliberately misled readers or misunderstood the criticism.

Did Ahmed Make a Clock?

0 implied HN points • 18 Sep 15
  1. Ahmed was praised for his skills by his father for fixing various electronics
  2. Concern arises about whether the media's portrayal of Ahmed as an engineering prodigy was accurate
  3. Debate about whether school officials and police overreacted in the situation

Anyone want a talk near London near July 2nd?

0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 16
  1. David Friedman is giving a talk in London on July 2nd.
  2. The talk is open to those within a few hours of London.
  3. Expenses and honorarium may be required for those further away.

Does Obama Want Trump to be Nominated?

0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 16
  1. Obama may believe Trump is the easiest Republican nominee to defeat.
  2. Obama is aware he is not popular with Republican primary voters.
  3. Obama publicly criticizes Trump.

A Healthcare Idea: Insurance That Doesn't Pay

0 implied HN points • 18 May 09
  1. Paying for healthcare out-of-pocket with insurance for extraordinary costs can help control expenses.
  2. Insurance companies bargaining prices could lead to lower healthcare costs for individuals.
  3. Consider options like companies that negotiate pricing instead of traditional insurance for medical care.

Leo Rosten on Revealed Preference

0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 16
  1. The post discusses a joke that teaches the concept of revealed preference in economics.
  2. The joke illustrates the idea that actions, like hitting someone, reveal preferences.
  3. Revealed preference theory is applied humorously through a father-son interaction in the joke.

Two Views of the World

0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 16
  1. Two different perspectives can exist within a group or organization, leading to conflicts.
  2. Some people may view participation as requiring monetary contributions, while others may value non-monetary contributions like volunteer work.
  3. Differing views on hierarchy and relationships can lead to tensions and misunderstandings.

Fairness in Sports: A Modest Proposal

0 implied HN points • 21 May 09
  1. Increase resources to improve output - like in agriculture.
  2. Limiting one aspect can lead to enhancements in other areas - as seen with a nuclear limitation treaty.
  3. Consider changing specific rules or constraints to address fairness concerns in sports.

Observations of Film Making

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 12
  1. Costumes in movies are designed to reflect changes in a character's role and personality over time.
  2. Filming a movie is not done in chronological order but involves shooting individual scenes multiple times.
  3. Authors may critique dialogue in movies, but characters should speak in their own unique voices, not the author's.

My Favorite Ex-Candidate

0 implied HN points • 25 Mar 16
  1. The ex-candidate being discussed is David Friedman.
  2. David Friedman is more fun to listen to than current candidates.
  3. The author seems to enjoy David Friedman's content.

Shoes: A Modest Proposal

0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 11
  1. The right foot tends to be slightly bigger than the left foot when buying shoes.
  2. Consideration for selling shoes individually for each foot instead of in pairs.
  3. There is a possibility that some shoe manufacturers already make right shoes slightly larger than left shoes.

When Costs Aren't

0 implied HN points • 25 Sep 12
  1. From an economic standpoint, decisions about global warming involve comparing costs of prevention with costs of non-action.
  2. Views on reducing energy consumption can depend on whether one believes they know best for others' lifestyles.
  3. When addressing crises like global warming, actions taken may reflect pre-existing agendas and preferences.

My Response to a Non-Libertarian FAQ

0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 16
  1. The author responded to a non-libertarian FAQ by email and converted the exchange to a web page.
  2. A blogger mentioned wanting to see the author's response, prompting the author to share it on their blog.
  3. Another person wrote a longer reply to the non-libertarian FAQ as well.

Arctic Sea Ice Briefly Continued

0 implied HN points • 11 Jun 09
  1. There was an inconsistency in the claim about Arctic sea ice shrinking
  2. NASA/JPL responses seemed to focus on defending the conclusion rather than addressing the actual data discrepancy
  3. It's important to verify claims and data from sources like NASA/JPL before accepting them as truth

Blowing Second-Hand Smoke

0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 13
  1. The claim that second-hand smoke kills over fifty thousand people annually may be misstated.
  2. Studying the effects of second-hand smoke through natural experiments can be influenced by biases and incentives.
  3. Research suggests that smoking bans may not have a significant impact on heart attack death rates.

Could a Bare Bones Law School Succeed?

0 implied HN points • 10 Feb 13
  1. Bare bones law schools could provide affordable legal education for a fraction of the cost of traditional schools.
  2. Bare bones law schools may face challenges in obtaining accreditation and building their reputation based on their graduates' performance.
  3. Despite challenges, the concept of bare bones law schools could potentially attract students who cannot afford or get into accredited schools.

Anyone Want a Talk Near London?

0 implied HN points • 01 Jun 16
  1. David Friedman is scheduled to give talks near London in July.
  2. He is looking for opportunities to give more talks in the London area.
  3. Friedman is open to adjusting his travel plans to accommodate additional speaking engagements.

It's All in How You Say It

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 11
  1. Jacques Chirac, former French leader, found guilty of corruption.
  2. First ex-president in France to be convicted of crimes.
  3. Importance of language and how information is presented.

Gang of Six Plan: Right Answer or Smoke and Mirrors?

0 implied HN points • 20 Jul 11
  1. The Gang of Six Plan aims to raise taxes by eliminating tax expenditures and lowering marginal rates.
  2. The effectiveness of the proposal depends on the substance of expenditure cuts and implementation details.
  3. The plan suggests raising the age of eligibility for Social Security gradually, which could have a significant impact.

Mailforge v Eudora

0 implied HN points • 20 Jul 11
  1. The transition from Eudora to Mailforge had some minor issues but overall was positive.
  2. Mailforge is faster and smoother in handling emails compared to Eudora.
  3. There were some glitches in Mailforge, potentially due to imported Eudora files, but they were manageable.

Dear Apple—Getting the Interface Wrong

0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 12
  1. When searching for a file in a folder, pressing the first letter should ideally bring that file to the top or bottom for easier access.
  2. Apple's user interface design is usually elegant, but inconsistencies can still arise.
  3. If a specific file is hard to locate, a workaround might involve remembering to press a different key for quicker access.