The Word Merchant

The Word Merchant by Stephen Heins explores environmental impacts, energy policies, and the economic dimensions of renewable versus traditional energy sources. It critically examines green energy initiatives, climate change narratives, and the role of fossil fuels, with an emphasis on factual information and questioning mainstream environmentalist perspectives.

Environmental Impacts of Energy Sources Economic Analysis of Energy Policies Debates on Renewable vs. Traditional Energy Critiques of Climate Change Narratives Political and Economic Influences on Energy Environmental Advocacy and Activism Global Energy Security and Infrastructure Ethical and Human Rights Perspectives on Climate

The hottest Substack posts of The Word Merchant

And their main takeaways

Deleting Comments

0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 10
  1. The author does not remove comments because of disagreement.
  2. Comments are deleted if they don't contribute to the topic.
  3. Many deleted comments were just spam links without substance.

A Suggestion for Samsung

0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 10
  1. Samsung announced a new cell phone with a projector feature.
  2. A suggestion was made for Samsung to improve the virtual keyboard feature on the phone.
  3. The author is eagerly waiting for advancements in mobile technology.

How to Lie With Statistics—Sometimes Without Even Trying

0 implied HN points • 03 May 09
  1. Sometimes studies can show different results in different communities, even if the average result is not the same.
  2. Research studies may be selectively chosen for publication based on their findings, leading to potential bias.
  3. Studies that confirm popular beliefs may be more likely to be publicized than those that do not.

Android G1 Update

0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 08
  1. A new FTP program called DroidFtp has been developed for the Android G1.
  2. Current software available for the G1 includes AKNotepad for note-taking and TextOnPhone for reading books.
  3. Improvements are still needed for a real word processor, Bluetooth keyboard support, wireless router capability, and a web browser that can save to internal memory.

Nature vs Nurture: A Natural Experiment

0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 08
  1. Evidence suggests children's outcomes are influenced by genetics and environment
  2. Study on Korean-American adoptive children shows impact of parental characteristics
  3. Nurture appears to be less significant than nature in determining outcomes
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McCain, Obama, Kiddie sex-ed, and Lies

0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 08
  1. McCain accused Obama of supporting comprehensive sex education for kindergarten students, leading to controversy.
  2. Media criticized both candidates, but didn't thoroughly fact-check before reporting.
  3. Illinois senate bill focused on preventing sexually transmitted infections, sparking debate on age-appropriate sex education.

The Real Problem with the Scholomance Books

0 implied HN points • 23 Jan 23
  1. The main issue with the Scholomance books is the unrealistic portrayal of extreme wealth inequality.
  2. The books fail to accurately represent how rich individuals accumulate their wealth.
  3. There is a disconnect between the moral messaging in the series and the real-world dynamics of wealth and power.

The Author as Sponge

0 implied HN points • 13 Sep 15
  1. Author as Sponge - Absorbing and sharing knowledge from various sources.
  2. Understanding firearm mechanics - The difference between open bolt and closed bolt firearms.
  3. Useful information for writing - Details like firearm mechanics can add depth to fictional writing.

Is H.L. Mencken Alive and Well at the NYT?

0 implied HN points • 21 Aug 08
  1. H.L. Mencken's bathtub hoax demonstrated human credulity and how easily false information can spread.
  2. The NYT misinterpreted a report, leading to a drastic change in meaning that appealed to people's beliefs.
  3. Despite corrections, the NYT's initial mistake in reporting may persist inaccurately in the public memory.

A Possibly Relevant Stoy

0 implied HN points • 03 May 08
  1. Different societies have varying marriage traditions, and it's important to be open-minded about their validity.
  2. Criticism of unconventional social structures should not be based solely on their differences from the norm.
  3. Allowing diverse social systems to coexist can lead to a more inclusive society.

European Speaking Trip in April

0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 17
  1. David Friedman plans a European speaking trip in April with talks in Belgrade, Sofia, and Norway.
  2. He is open to scheduling additional talks in Poland or Milan during that time.
  3. Friedman's terms include expenses and an honorarium determined by the host.

Is RSA Liable to Damages for Fraud?

0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 13
  1. The National Security Agency paid RSA to promote encryption software they could access.
  2. RSA employees claim they were misled by government officials about the software's security.
  3. RSA may be at risk of being sued for fraud, but potential prosecution is low due to government involvement.

A Proposal to Triple Tax Robots

0 implied HN points • 11 Mar 17
  1. Bill Gates proposed to triple tax robots that do the work of human workers.
  2. Currently, income from human workers is taxed with income tax and social security tax.
  3. The discussion on taxing robots involves issues like capital substitution for labor.

The Spanish Do Great Covers

0 implied HN points • 17 Sep 14
  1. According to David Friedman, the Spanish excel at creating great covers.
  2. David Friedman has a Substack where he shares insights and perspectives.
  3. The topic of Spanish cover design is discussed in the shared post.

A Question for Bleeding Heart Libertarians

0 implied HN points • 19 May 13
  1. The author questions the intellectual defensibility of John Rawls's theory of social justice.
  2. There is a challenge to whether the Bleeding Heart Libertarians have a double standard in treating arguments from academic philosophers with more respect.
  3. The post explores the concept of 'cartoon liberals' and 'cartoon libertarians' in relation to philosophical arguments.

My Midterm

0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 11
  1. The course on Analytic Methods for Lawyers covers various subjects like statistics, accounting, and economics.
  2. The midterm included a question on decision theory related to legal scenarios.
  3. Access to course materials like lecture recordings and power points is available on the course web page.

Virtual Off Campus

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 08
  1. In the past, going to college meant starting fresh without online connections.
  2. The Internet now allows college freshmen to bring with them existing online friendships.
  3. Having online friends can be comforting, but may reduce the need to make new friends offline.

Help Wanted: Getting a Cover for a Novel

0 implied HN points • 16 May 18
  1. Consider hiring an illustrator for a custom novel cover, but it can be expensive.
  2. Explore online platforms like Fiverr to find artists offering a range of services at various prices.
  3. Attend events like conventions to find illustrators in person who might fit the style you want for your cover.

Cutting the Budget: A Modest Proposal

0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 11
  1. Both President Obama and the Republican leadership aim to reduce the federal budget.
  2. The proposal suggests agreeing to support any cuts one side supports and oppose any increases the other side objects to.
  3. Republicans can cut expenditures they disapprove of, the President can cut expenditures he disapproves of, and no additional spending can occur without mutual agreement.

The Transparent Society: v 0.1

0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 10
  1. In a transparent society, everyone is observed and recorded.
  2. David Brin suggests transparency in both directions - people can watch the cops and vice versa.
  3. Modern technology, like cell phones, makes it hard for governments to prevent public distribution of leaked information.

My European Speaking Trip (yet again)

0 implied HN points • 29 Jul 21
  1. U.K. planning to accept U.S. vaccinations for European trip
  2. Speaker prefers interesting audience and place over honorarium
  3. Trip postponed due to increasing infection rates and uncertainty about vaccine protection

My New Book is Now Out

0 implied HN points • 17 Jan 19
  1. Author has a new book available on Amazon
  2. Book includes contributions from other authors
  3. Author welcomes feedback for corrections in the book

Legal Systems Very Different From Ours

0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 17
  1. The book discusses legal systems different from Western norms.
  2. Examples include Imperial Chinese Law and Pirate Law.
  3. It also covers topics like making law and guarding the guardians.

Again Fictional Economics

0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 17
  1. The book will consist of short stories and poems that are both entertaining and contain economic insights
  2. The current list includes works like _Margin of Profit_, _The Peace of Dives_, _The Cambist and Lord Iron_, and _Business as Usual During Alterations_
  3. The author welcomes suggestions for additional fiction pieces that convey economic ideas effectively

Observations on London

0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 16
  1. Younger passengers on the London Tube offered their seats to the author, showing a level of courtesy not typically seen in the U.S.
  2. The hotel the author stayed at in the U.K. did not have safes in rooms with guest-set combinations, implying a different level of trust in the U.K. compared to other places.
  3. The author observed a unique scenario in Notting Hill where jam was being sold with payment through the house's mail slot, a sight not commonly seen elsewhere.

How To Lie While Telling the Truth: Part II

0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 15
  1. Increasing CO2 can improve crop yield, not decrease it.
  2. Research about CO2 and crop nutrition may not present the full picture.
  3. Propaganda can sometimes masquerade as scientific information.

Robert Heinlein, Cell Phones, and Police

0 implied HN points • 12 Jun 15
  1. Predicting direct effects of technological change is easy, but predicting indirect effects is harder.
  2. Cell phone technology has greatly increased public opposition to police violence by providing everyone with a pocket video camera.
  3. In a society where everything is subject to surveillance, transparency should go both ways- police can watch us, but we can also watch them.

Medieval Myth

0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 15
  1. Popular conceptions of the Middle Ages are often inaccurate, such as the myth of overspiced food to hide spoiled meat.
  2. Medieval recipes and cookbooks show that food preparation did not involve routinely serving spoiled meat.
  3. A recent book reviews the medieval origins of modern science, challenging common misconceptions about the era.

Adam Smith on the Subject of Laptops in the Classroom

0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 14
  1. There is debate over allowing laptops in classrooms due to concerns of distractions like checking social media.
  2. Colleges' discipline is often more for the benefit of the masters than the students.
  3. Adam Smith believed that when masters fulfill their duties, students don't usually neglect theirs.

007 and the NSA

0 implied HN points • 10 Jan 14
  1. James Bond's license to kill may imply a license to break the law
  2. Defenders of the NSA believe agents can break the law without consequence in the interest of national security
  3. The idea that the end justifies the means is controversial, and actions like breaking the law should be carefully considered

A Matter of Priorities

0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 13
  1. Obama's 2012 reelection campaign software system was flawless compared to the opposition's.
  2. Obamacare's computerized system was a complete mess.
  3. It's important to prioritize what matters.

Laws, Norms and Shopping Carts

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 13
  1. People are less likely to report theft of shopping carts, even if they are obviously stolen.
  2. The disparity between laws and social norms can influence how theft is perceived.
  3. Businesses often handle shopping cart theft using strategies other than legal enforcement to avoid potential customer backlash.

Should I Be Mad at Scribd?

0 implied HN points • 01 Apr 13
  1. Material that was already available online for free was uploaded to Scribd without permission.
  2. The copied material did not include proper attribution or ways to find more works by the author.
  3. The author is hesitant to file a takedown notice but may consider re-uploading content to Scribd with proper credit.

Endogenous Disability

0 implied HN points • 27 Nov 12
  1. Some disabilities can be influenced by personal choices.
  2. Endogenous disabilities raise questions about sympathy and support.
  3. When the costs of disabilities are borne by others, it can create challenges and ethical dilemmas.

Is TSA Vandalism Deliberate Policy?

0 implied HN points • 05 Jun 12
  1. TSA may approve of, or at least tolerate, vandalism as a way to discourage passengers from bringing certain items on planes.
  2. Identifying TSA employees who search luggage could potentially discourage pilfering and vandalism.
  3. There is no easy way to prove if TSA vandalism is a deliberate policy without confession from a TSA inspector.

The Evolution of the Camera

0 implied HN points • 29 Oct 11
  1. In the past, cameras had different designs like viewfinder and single lens reflex cameras.
  2. Digital cameras eliminated the need for the mirror and prism in DSLRs.
  3. Cameras with interchangeable lenses and large sensors are becoming smaller and more affordable.

The Fall of the House of Murdoch

0 implied HN points • 15 Jul 11
  1. There has been a scandal involving Rupert Murdoch's newspaper for illegal activities and ethical concerns.
  2. Murdoch is seen as a significant figure and has faced public backlash in the UK.
  3. Speculation is raised about a potential plot against Murdoch, including a fictional narrative involving his predecessor Robert Maxwell.

In Praise of the Turks

0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 11
  1. A Turkish hospital ship helped 250 wounded from fighting in Misrata.
  2. Turkish foreign minister made swift decision to assist after delay.
  3. Turkey demonstrated a strong commitment to humanitarian aid.

Sustainability

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 10
  1. Sustainability may not be a reasonable or important goal if it means maintaining current activities forever.
  2. Preparing for a future that won't resemble the present is more practical than focusing solely on sustainability.
  3. Universities should present arguments for and against sustainability to encourage critical thinking and discussion.

A Perceptive Essay About High School and Nerds

0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 10
  1. Smart kids in high school may be low status because being popular takes a lot of time and effort.
  2. Children may be brought up in a way that doesn't fully inform them about their educational environment.
  3. Sometimes in school, teachers and students alike may rely on shortcuts like using Cliff's Notes rather than fully engaging with material.